The number of animals presented for MSA grading grew to a record of 4.13 million cattle in 2024-25, representing 47 percent of the national adult cattle slaughter, and 1.25 million lambs, or 4.8pc of the national slaughter, according to the program’s newly-released annual performance report.

The report said MSA continues to collaborate with most medium-to-large sheep meat supply chains to showcase the benefits of the cuts-based model. Two supply chains are in the process of installing the technology along with MSA IT systems to enable cuts-based grading.

MSA Sheep meat

A total of 863 new sheep producers and 1180 new mixed livestock producers became MSA registered in 2024-25, taking the overall number of sheep producers rising to 27,521.

WA processed the highest number of lambs through the MSA pathway at 470,000 and NSW had the highest increase in lambs going through the MSA pathway from the previous year, an increase of 18pc.

A total of 99.5pc of all lambs presented for MSA met the minimum requirements – an increase of 0.2 percentage points on the previous year.

The financial year also saw the completion of the MSA saleyard research for cattle and sheep, enabling an extension of the cattle pathway to 48 hours and saleyard consignment now being included as part of the of the new cuts-based model for sheep meat.

MSA’s latest research in FY25 with 150 butchers and 50 wholesalers, showed the percentage of butchers and wholesalers selling MSA beef and lamb has increased over time, reaching a record high of 81pc for butchers and 90pc for wholesalers (up from 68pc and 84pc respectively in FY24). Of these, 58pc of butchers said more than 50pc of their product offer is MSA graded. Quality and consistency remain the top drivers to stock MSA beef and lamb, which was rated as ‘very good to excellent’ by 89pc of butchers and 100pc of wholesalers (up from 80pc and 83pc respectively in FY24).

The research showed that the average retail price differential for MSA cuts with butchers was 90 cents/kg (non-MSA $34.80 vs MSA $35.70) and with wholesalers $2.70/kg (non-MSA 25.30 vs MSA $28).

MSA beef

The past financial year also recorded the best eating quality result since the MSA Index was introduced, reaching a record high with an MSA Index average of 58.81 (see above chart).

Grainfed cattle achieved an MSA Index average of 59.35 (up 0.97 year-on-year).

The report attributed the higher score to a decrease in ossification, an increase in MSA marbling, a decrease in hump height and reduced HGP-usage from 47 percent down to 42 percent.

The average MSA Index for non-grainfed cattle was 58.22 (down 0.12pc year-on-year).

Queensland had the largest improvement in MSA Index year-on-year, gaining 0.57 points to 56.71.

WA achieved the highest MSA index by State or Territory with an average of 61.02 (up 0.47 points year-on-year).

“This continued improvement in MSA Index and ultimately, the eating quality of beef, means there are 10 percent more 5-star tenderloins, 14 percent more 4-star cube rolls, and 10 percent more 4-star striploins compared with 10 years ago,” MSA Program Manager David Packer says in the 2024-25 MSA annual outcomes report.

4.23 million cattle from 13,824 beef producers were presented for MSA grading at 41 Australian processing sites in 2024-25.

The report estimated that the MSA program delivered $409 million in additional returns at farm-gate level for MSA compliant beef carcases in the 2024-25 year.

The number of licensed brands underpinned by MSA grew in 2024/25 to a total of 197 beef brands and 22 sheep brands.

The proportion of hormone growth promotant (HGP)‑treated cattle in FY25 was 25pc (down 4pc year-on-year). For MSA graded grain-fed cattle, 42 percent were HGP-treated in FY25 (down 5pc year-on-year).

By state, Queensland presented the largest number of cattle for MSA grading, with 1.78 million head from 2865 producers, or 43 percent of the total number of cattle presented for MSA‑grading in FY25 nationally.

NSW presented the second largest number for MSA grading, at 1.11 million head, from a total of 3971 producers.

Additionally, the largest increase in numbers graded from South Australia and Western Australia was seen in FY25, at a 52pc and 9pc increase respectively.

In FY25, national compliance to MSA minimum requirements was 94.8pc, improving 0.8pc from FY24. Compliance to MSA minimum requirements improved throughout the year, from 94pc in July 2024 to 96pc in June 2025.

Retail feedback

MLA research conducted with 150 butchers and 50 wholesalers showed that 59pc of those surveyed rated MSA brands as “very to extremely” important in their product offering.

Butchers continue to charge more for MSA beef, with a price gap of 8.1pc between MSA and non-MSA beef (up 6.2pc year-on-year).

Wholesalers also continue to charge more for MSA cuts, through the gap has reduced since the previous year (9pc in FY25 compared to 16.7pc in FY24).

To read the full MSA report click here