Increase in lower fat scores

Marts: Results for the first half year of cattle grading at factories under the new mechanical system, which replaced the Department of Agriculture classification officers at factories, has shown changes in the ratio of higher grades for bullocks, with a substantial increase in lower fat scores in the kill.

The average carcass weight for bullocks increased by 11kg to 348kg, a slight increase on the average for the last quarter of 2004. There has been a significant in the ratio of animals in R/O grades, with fewer animals qualifying for the superior grade and a matching increase in poorer grading results.

Earlier farmer concerns over an increase in poor fat score results has been confirmed with a huge increase in the number of animals dropping into the poorest fat score.