Australia launches Meat Standards Australia Sheepmeat Index at LambEx

Meat Standards Australia (MSA) introduced a new Sheepmeat Index at the LambEx event in South Australia on July 8. The index, developed from data on more than 5,300 lambs supplied by 52 producers across Western Australia, South Australia and New South Wales, measures eating quality and lean meat yield (LMY).

The showcase revealed wide variation across breeds and production systems, with programme manager David Packer noting, "There wasn't one breed or one feeding system that stood out above the rest." Only five of the entrant groups produced lambs that were above average for both LMY and eating quality. The index provides a weighted average of eating quality across all carcass cuts and incorporates intramuscular fat (IMF) and LMY data.

Processors such as the Australian Meat Processor Corporation (GMP) can now track individual lambs and give producers detailed carcass feedback. Producers will receive a flock‑profile report within 12 months, and Packer urged breeders to select rams that are at least average in these traits while maintaining a balanced approach to fertility and production.