How is Aussie Beef graded?

Are you a beef lover looking for the best-quality meat available? Look no further than Meat Standards Australia (MSA) graded beef! The MSA grading system was developed through extensive research and consumer testing. It ensures consistent quality and predicts the eating experience of Australian beef based on consumer feedback. So, whether you're cooking in a professional environment or serving family and friends at home, you can be assured that you're getting the best product available. Let's dive deeper into the world of MSA graded Australian beef and what makes it so special!

Where did the program come from?

Historically, international beef grading systems focused solely on production. They did not take consumer tastes into account. To address this, the Australian beef industry introduced the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) grading system.

The MSA program was developed by long-term research and supported by extensive consumer testing. It is voluntary, and only licensed beef processors that meet the MSA standards can use the MSA grading system. The MSA grading program is unique because it has complete paddock to plate quality checks. These checks cover livestock management, sustainability, product quality, and integrity.

MSA calculates and differentiates the eating quality of each cut in a carcass. It works in conjunction with recommended cooking techniques. MSA is based on:

Consumer taste panels held in 8 countries

More than 86,000 diners

Over 600,000 serves of beef

The wide range of production and processing systems tested.

What Our MSA Graded Australian Beef Delivers

All MSA graded beef is labeled with an eating quality grade and recommended cooking method, ensuring:

Consistent quality: MSA underpinned brands can offer a consistent eating quality experience. The MSA ‘graded’ symbol takes the guesswork out of buying quality beef. It shows the provenance, breed, and finishing of that cut. This assurance of quality helps attract customers to your business.

An enhanced dining experience: MSA gives you the confidence to develop and promote new menus or retail items using underutilized cuts of beef.

End User confidence: Knowing customers will enjoy tender, juicy cuts every time gives you and your staff the confidence to promote MSA-graded products.

Integrity and transparency

As a participant in the MSA program, we are licensed to use the MSA trademark and certify products following the MSA Standards Manual. Licensees are subject to independent random audits for compliance with the standards.

Only graders who are trained and certified and undergo regular assessment are eligible to grade carcasses. They assess various factors such as breed, meat color, beef marbling, and fat depth. Cattle must be raised under the best conditions for nutrition and minimal stress. Producers must follow proper management during handling and transportation.

The MSA is just one of the systems in place to ensure that there are steps in place that make Australian Beef one of the best meat products on the market.

Maintaining High Standards of Animal Health and Welfare

Australia has world-leading traceability and beef quality assurance systems to ensure the safety and integrity of its red meat. Livestock processing in Australia is conducted according to national and international standards to ensure high animal welfare standards are maintained. The Australian meat industry is committed to the humane treatment of animals and has implemented the 'National Animal Welfare Standards for Livestock Processing Establishments.' These standards integrate various codes of practice, legislation, and community expectations into a single best-practice standard for livestock processors. Australian processors follow the 'Australian Livestock Processing Industry Animal Welfare Certification System' to show their commitment to these standards.

More information about beef traceability can be found in our blog, Australian Meat Traceability systems from Paddock to Plate.

About Aussie Beef & Lamb UK

Aussie Beef & Lamb (ABL) is a Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) owned brand that promotes Australian red meat across export markets, representing beef, lamb, goat, and veal. It is used to denote high-quality red meat raised, produced, and exported in safe, clean environments. ABL has some of the highest standards of beef animal welfare, traceability, and food safety in the world.

The Australian beef industry produces some of the finest beef in the world. It produces high-quality grass-fed beef, grain-fed beef, organic beef, lean beef, ribs of beef, and beef fillet.

Halal Beef

The Australian beef industry also caters to the needs of different cultures, with many Australian processors producing Halal beef. Government-supervised Islamic slaughter programs are in place to ensure stringent procedures are met in meat processing establishments. To label beef as Halal, a trained Muslim slaughterman must slaughter the animals following the requirements of Islamic law.