Meat Science is the study of meat, including its production, preparation and preservation. Meat scientists also research the nutritional value; and they study ways to produce meat like products.
What do meat scientists do?
At UNE, Meat scientists’ research is on production and processing factors that impact on meat quality in both beef and sheep. They are concerned with supply chains and how the producer and the processor work together to develop value-based marketing systems. They also investigate new technologies to improve and measure meat quality in meat processing.
The diagram illustrates a meat processing supply chain.
Note that there is a component of research involved in the process. Meat scientists do not only work in universities, but also work with live animals in feedlots and in abattoirs. There are meat scientists involved at every stage of the paddock to plate process.
A very important part of what Meat Scientists do is to support food safety and ensure that the meat products we buy will not make us sick. When animals grow well and stay healthy, farmers produce more meat, milk or eggs for humans to eat. They study animal products and check meat quality or screen milk for pathogens.
Meat scientists also work with farmers to decrease the environmental impact of their animals.
In the next lesson, we will discuss meat quality.
