Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/12307
Title: Variation in weights of primal pork cuts
Contributor(s): Hermesch, Susanne  (author)orcid ; Tickle, K M (author); Lealiifano, A K (author)
Publication Date: 2012
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/12307
Abstract: The payment system used in Australia uses the weight of the carcase and fat depth at the P2 site to determine the price per kg carcase weight paid to producers. This economic incentive for a specific weight range and a higher overall lean meat content in the carcase has resulted in larger and leaner cuts available to consumers across Australia in comparison to pork cuts available in the 1980s and 1990s (Müller et al., 2009). The study also found only small differences in the lean meat content of pork cuts between states and areas of different socio-economic status 'due to breeding and feeding for large, lean pigs by the Australian pig industry' as the authors concluded. While the variation in the proportion of lean in each raw cut was modest, considerable variation was observed in the weight of cuts, fat thickness and slice thickness due to differing butchering practices. This aspect of variability has been addressed by Australian Pork Limited (APL, 2012) by providing the PorkStar training manual which outlines the various retail cuts in detail. Different prices are paid for individual pork cuts. Price differences between cuts increase as the carcase is broken down. For example, the rolling annual average wholesale price varied from $ 3.55 for forequarters to $ 7.77 for bellies for broken sales and from $ 3.92 for boneless middles above 13 mm fat depth to $ 15.07 for US ribs for carton sales (APL, Eyes and Ears, Issue #502, October 2012). At the farm gate level, carcases may be broken down to the primal cuts and the return per carcase may be increased by optimising the weight in each primal cut. Mérour and Hermesch (2008) demonstrated variation in primal cuts for carcases with similar weight and fatness levels. This variation in primal cuts resulted in an additional return per carcase of $ 7 at the farm gate level and $ 21 at the wholesale/retail level for the top 10% of pigs in comparison to the average. This evaluation was based on French data as similar data were not available in Australia at the time. Information has been collected about primal cut weights in Australian pigs and a first description of these data and evaluation of the variation in primal pork cuts is provided in this study.
Publication Type: Book Chapter
Source of Publication: 2012 AGBU Pig Genetics Workshop Notes, p. 19-22
Publisher: University of New England, Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit
Place of Publication: Armidale, Australia
ISBN: 9780646590066
0646590065
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 070201 Animal Breeding
Fields of Research (FoR) 2020: 300305 Animal reproduction and breeding
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 830308 Pigs
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2020: 100410 Pigs
HERDC Category Description: B1 Chapter in a Scholarly Book
Publisher/associated links: http://agbu.une.edu.au/pig_genetics/pdf/2012/P4-Hermesch-Tickle-Lealiifano.pdf
http://trove.nla.gov.au/version/187771631
Series Name: Pig Genetics Workshop Notes
Editor: Editor(s): Susanne Hermesch and Kathryn Dobos
Appears in Collections:Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU)
Book Chapter

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