The BeefQ – Beef Eating Quality project - funded through the RDP 2014-2020, aims to increase the eating quality and value of Welsh Beef production through the testing and demonstration of an enhanced carcase quality grading system based on the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) model.
The project, which is co-ordinated by IBERS, Aberystwyth University, and is being conducted with other stakeholders such as Hybu Cig Cymru - Meat Promotion Wales - delivered a training course in eating quality assessment and meat science in early 2019 and development of the Welsh eating quality grading system is well underway. A survey of 2000 beef carcasses submitted for slaughter in PGI Welsh Beef processors was undertaken in February and August 2019, and a sub-sample of those carcasses presented to 1200 consumers at 20 events across Wales and England for taste testing. The first results from both the survey and the consumer testing are available in the latest BeefQ newsletters.
The next steps are to work with wider stakeholders in the beef industry in Wales, including the FUW, to develop a strategy to facilitate the implementation of an eating quality prediction system in Wales.
To learn more about the BeefQ project please go to the BeefQ project website www.beefq.wales where you can also register to receive the newsletter. You can also follow them on Twitter @BeefQWales.