AHDB warns of penalties for heavier carcases
AHDB warns of penalties for heavier carcases
A recent report from AHDB Beef & Lamb has suggested that processors may incur additional penalties if they reduce their maximum weight limits on heavier beef carcases.
According to the report, more than 40% of steers slaughtered in Great Britain in February 2016 had carcase weights above 380kg, up from 36 % a year before.
The figures form the first part of an ongoing, in-depth analysis of cattle prices and specifications.
The new report provides analysis of the distribution of cattle in the AHDB deadweight price reporting sample by conformation, fat class and weight band.
It is the first stage of a series of analyses aiming to improve the transparency of price reporting data.
The report shows that the proportion of heifer and young bull carcases above the 380kg weight was also higher this year. Heavier carcases were particularly concentrated among those with the highest lean meat yield – conformation grades E and U.
In these classes, most carcases weigh over 380kg, with many over 420kg.
Stephen Howarth, market specialist manager for AHDB Market Intelligence, said: “These carcases currently attract some of the highest average prices, on a pence per kilogram basis, as many proces-sors pay bonuses for them. However, there is a risk that new penalties for being overweight will ac-tually reduce their value.
“This could potentially have significant implications for those producers who are currently aiming to deliver animals with the highest conformation. They might need to adjust their system towards pro-ducing lower conformation, lighter animals.”
The report also looks at how the distribution of carcases by conformation and fat class changed over the year to February 2016. This shows relatively little change in fat classes, but a shift towards R grade carcases, compared with a year earlier, mainly from O.
This represents a small improvement in the conformation of carcases over that period, suggesting producers are getting better at delivering cattle which meet processors’ target specification.
Dunbia chief executive receives industry honours
Positive new season lamb prices
