MLA: Evaluating advancements in carcase tracking solutions in red meat processing plants for improved end-to-end traceability and feedback
Opportunity for
- Supply chains looking to trial and integrate carcase tracking solutions into their business.
- MLA is seeking co-investment proposals in the following areas:
- Ready-to-deploy carcase tracking solutions
- Refinement to existing carcase tracking solutions The opportunity is also open to supply chains who have made previous investments in carcase tracking and are wanting to refine to improve performance and reliability thereby enhancing end-to-end traceability and feedback for that supply chain.
Opportunity description
Industry challenge
A primary goal of the new MLA 2030 Strategic Plan is to deliver value-based marketing. Creating and capturing value is central to MLA’s vision for a more profitable red meat industry. By moving beyond traditional models, we aim to unlock value at every stage of the supply chain. MLA’s value capture program focuses on providing tools, systems and feedback loops that allow individual livestock carcases to be assessed on traits like meat yield and quality. These insights reshape how livestock are valued and traded, aligning payment systems with market expectations and rewarding higher-value production. This approach helps producers breed, feed and finish livestock with the end market in mind. Carcase feedback will reach all parts of the supply chain so stakeholders can make informed decisions that boost long-term performance and profitability. To bring this to life, a key enabler is carcase tracking capability to ensure carcase feedback can be sent up and down the supply chain.
Current opportunity
With the introduction of mandatory sheep eID requirements which will bring sheep and goats in line with cattle in the requirement to be tagged and recorded in the NLIS database, there is an opportunity to extract further value for the supply chain by providing better quality data up and down the chain leading to continuous improvement and better-informed decisions if successful carcase tracking systems can be integrated. MLA is seeking co-investment proposals from supply chains looking to trial and integrate carcase tracking solutions into their business. The opportunity is also open to supply chains who have made previous investments in carcase tracking and are wanting to refine to improve performance and reliability thereby enhancing end-to-end traceability and feedback for that supply chain.
Successful applications will need to detail investment in carcase tracking to date, baseline performance currently delivered and identified system pain points impacting accuracy. System upgrades required to overcome these issues and how they will improve performance and reliability should be included in the proposal and will be key to successful projects.
Find out more and apply here by 31st October 2025.
Tenders must comply with all requirements specified in this request for tender.
All submissions must be emailed to jcook@mla.com.au
Opportunity background
MLA’s Productivity off-farm sub-program works to develop and adopt technologies in primary and secondary processing that deliver wider benefits to the red meat supply chain. Building on the significant investments in integrity systems such as the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) led by Integrity Systems Company, a subsidiary of MLA, and other initiatives led by Australian Meat Processors Corporation (AMPC) there are existing solutions which underpins Australia’s commitment to biosecurity and food safety. However, it has been identified that improved capacity and capability in carcase tracking systems in red meat processing plants can further unlock benefits from end-to-end traceability and help realise the 2030 strategic goal of value-based marketing. For some value chains, transforming carcases into multiple cuts during processing is the pinch point where livestock traceability reverts to a mob/batch production runs. At the same time, advancements in objective measurement (and automation) are more and more unlocking data where identifying and integrating livestock traits to carcase to meat cut specifications for target markets and customers, plus providing feedback to producers on such grading, highlights the critical need for ‘tracking’.