Results of a producer dark cutting survey

Abstract

Dark cutting in beef carcases can represent a significant financial loss to processors and producers involved in direct marketing. In our study we valued dark_cutting downgrades to a loss of $100 to $150 per carcase since all such bodies had to be diverted away from their primary export market, and additional cattle had to be killed in their place. A supplier survey conducted in November 2000 documented the on-farm histories of 937 market-specific yearling cattle killed at the one meat plant over an 18 months period. This enabled the examination of on-farm records pertaining to the handling, treatments, grazing history and preparation for sale of turnoff lots that were then correlated to the number and percentage of dark cutters. By association we pinpointed a number of social and behavioural background factors that applied to the circumstances, such as handling issues, long pickups, purchased stock, mixed mobs and limited weaner training. Although not commonly observed, improving pasture conditions were a possible nutritional influence associated with less dark-cutting. In conclusion, we suggest that animal behavioural influences reported in this paper are worth managing in the lead up to processing. However the number of dark cutters was not considered to be high by industry standards for pasture fed cattle