Green light for meat body

The WA meat industry has been given the opportunity to design its own future.

Agvivo executive, WA Meat Industry Association board member and Kojonup beef producer Erin Gorter is developing a structure for the newly formed WA Meat Research Council.

Ms Gorter has been contracted to work with MLA, at least until to July this year, when it is hoped the council would be up and running.

Last year, a Senate inquiry into the grass-fed cattle levy delivered seven recommendations for a broad overhaul of the controversial tax.

Chief among them was a recommendation to create a beef producer-owned organisation to receive and direct how levies are spent.

Ms Gorter said her task now was to liaise with local industry.

She will then establish a framework that is best able to respond to stakeholders' needs in regard to grazing management, animal health and welfare, feedlot management, meat quality, genetics for improved efficiency and environmental management

"WA now has its own opportunity to have its own body in order to have an opportunity to set our research and development priorities that then fit into the greater national meat industry strategic plans," she said

"MLA is supporting the establishment of the councils around the country."