New Technology Promises Breakthrough in Measuring Marbling in Live Cattle
A groundbreaking technology could revolutionize the red meat industry by enabling the prediction of eating quality in live cattle, and eliminating the reliance on post-slaughter carcass evaluations.
Developed by New Zealand-based inMR Measure, this system utilizes nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), a technology widely employed in human MRI systems, to assess intra-muscular fat (IMF), a key determinant of meat quality.
Initially designed for lamb, the system has shown promising results for live cattle through trials conducted at the University of New England’s Tullimba research feedlot in collaboration with the NSW Department of Primary Industries.
Known as Marbl, this system offers the potential to optimize production processes and enhance genetic evaluations, marking a significant advancement in livestock management.
Promising Results for the Beef Industry
Marbl’s cattle prototype underwent rigorous testing, scanning hundreds of cattle to measure IMF and comparing data with post-slaughter samples.
Results indicate strong potential for accurately predicting IMF in live cattle, which directly correlates to eating quality. Similar success was seen in trials with live sheep, offering the possibility of commercializing a solution for IMF measurement across species.
IMF and marbling scores are crucial for determining meat quality and market value. By integrating Marbl into live cattle operations, producers could optimize production cycles, predict performance earlier, and improve data for genetic evaluations.
Future Research and Industry Benefits
While still in the prototype phase, Marbl’s continued development could offer transformative benefits, including:
- Enhanced production insights: Producers can monitor and manage production cycles using real-time IMF data.
- Performance predictions: Earlier identification of eating quality traits during production.
- Improved genetics: Better data integration into genetic evaluation models.
MLA and inMR Measure are committed to refining the system, focusing on consistent data collection, expanding testing across cattle populations, and adapting the technology for diverse environments.
The potential impact of Marbl underscores the red meat industry’s dedication to innovation, bringing the dream of real-time, non-invasive IMF measurement in live animals closer to reality.
As further development progresses, Australian producers stand to benefit from improved efficiency and higher meat quality.
Interested in how technology is shaping the future of beef production? Visit our homepage for more on the innovations transforming meat quality assessment.
