Impact of ovine meat inspection systems on processing and production costs

Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Wellington, New Zealand.

The efficiency and cost-effectiveness of government-regulated meat inspection systems are under review in a number of countries. A post mortem organoleptic meat inspection programme is the most costly component of an inspection system and the procedures applied to a particular class of livestock should be appropriate to the spectrum and prevalence of diseases and defects present in each geographical region. Awareness of the impact of specific inspection requirements on processing costs, the application of integrated quality management principles and the development of programmes that disseminate information on diseases and defects and reward the producer of high-quality carcases, are all features of an efficient and cost-effective inspection system.