Strong opinions have been aroused by the Sheepmeat Council of Australia’s (SCA) discussion about changing the definition of lamb to allow for the eruption of permanent incisors but without either incisor being in wear.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Heywood lamb producer Georgina Gubbins is adamant the definition should not change from its current definition as young sheep that have not yet cut their first permanent teeth.
Ms Gubbins, a former member of the Victorian Farmers Federation’s livestock council, said lamb producers should be able to hit the market specifications for lamb before the young sheep cut their first permanent teeth.
She said the proposal to allow for the eruption of permanent incisors would be “a step backwards.
“It’s going from something very black and white to something that will be subjective.
She said she knew of no lamb producers who were in favour of the change apart from local advocate, SCA delegate Michael Craig of Harrow.
Ms Gubbins said extending the age at which young sheep were defined as lambs would increase the risk of some getting a mutton taste.
Byaduk lamb producer Tony Fleetwood is also against the change, saying it would increase the risk of “corruption” of the definition of a lamb.
Change advocate Michael Craig said the move would only add 22-27 days to what is currently defined as a lamb.
Under the proposed definition, the permanent incisors would be visible but not grown.
It would give producers more time to avoid the “price cliff’ that occurred when lambs were downgraded to hoggets, Mr Craig said.
He said eating quality science had found there was no loss in eating quality in lambs where the first incisor teeth were visible.
Mr Craig said the eruption of the first teeth was a sign that lambs were at their peak and marketing them beforehand might not be giving consumers a good experience.
The change would standardise the definition of lamb across all states, align it with New Zealand’s definition and help the sheep industry on its path to objective carcase measurement, he said.
Mr Craig said he expected AUS-MEAT would set up auditing systems to enforce the new definition if it was adopted.
Producers and anyone with an interest in the lamb definition have until November 29 to provide feedback in the consultation.
The consultation discussion paper and a link to an online survey are available on the SCA website: www.sheepmeatcouncil.com.au/lamb-definition
