With the growing importance of animal welfare and environmental sustainability, many red meat industry workers are becoming interested in each beef production stage.
From farmgate to the butcher’s display cabinet, the people who work in the cattle and beef industries want to know the details of how a cut of beef is created.
This desire to know motivated Oakey meat inspector Paul Keating to attend last Friday’s Food Heroes feedlot tour event.
“I see the carcase of a beast on the processing floor, so this tour gives me the opportunity to come out and see how other parts of the beef supply chain works,” Mr Keating said.
“Seeing how things work in a different part of the cattle supply chain has given me more understanding of what happens before I see a carcase at the abattoir.
“I really value the development of my understanding about what occurs at each stage of our beef production process.”
Mr Keating started as a sixteen year old in a small red meat abattoir and has spent his life growing his knowledge and skills in the beef industry.
“Many people still don’t have the perception of live animal through to a meat product,” he said.
“But, that is definitely on the increase as more consumers start to value the environment and animal welfare.
“Working in the beef industry I understand that link and it’s important to me to know an animal’s welfare has been taken seriously and it lived a good, healthy life.”