Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
23/07/2026 4:39 AM AWST

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Grade beef carcases using MSA standards

Grade beef carcases using MSA standards

Unit of competency
National Code
AMPQUA308
State Code
OFA21
TGA Status
Current
DTWD Status
Approved
Current Release Number
1.00
Current Release Date
24/01/2023
View on TGA
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
21/06/2023
Field of Education
030307 - Food Processing Technology
Original Release Date
21/06/2023
Nominal Hours
25
Description
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to grade beef to Meat Standards Australia (MSA) standards.It is an MSA requirement that workplaces with a Level 1 licence have company graders who have a Statement of Attainment in this unit of competency or an MSA approved equivalent unit.The skills and knowledge gained from this unit allow AUSMEAT chiller assessors to grade beef to MSA standards. MSA grading can only be carried out in MSA licensed processing establishments.All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, according to state/territory health and safety, food and meat safety regulations, legislation and standards that apply to the workplace.As well as MSA requirements, legislative and regulatory requirements apply to meat inspection and meat safety and are enforced through state/territory jurisdictions. Users must check with the relevant regulatory authority before delivery.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Comply with requirements
  • 1.1 Identify MSA and AUS-MEAT grader requirements
  • 1.2 Comply with all workplace and regulatory requirements while grading to MSA standards
2. Apply the MSA system
  • 2.1 Identify and apply consumer preferences for eating quality traits
  • 2.2 Identify factors impacting on eating quality
3. Grade beef carcases to MSA standards
  • 3.1 Accurately identify and allocate reasons for non-compliance
  • 3.2 Identify default inputs required for MSA grading
  • 3.3 Assess maturity, MSA marbling, hump height, fat distribution and hide puller damage to MSA standards
  • 3.4 Calibrate, maintain and operate equipment used for measuring ultimate pH, and record calibration results
  • 3.5 Measure ultimate pH
  • 3.6 Identify hanging method
  • 3.7 Record AUS-MEAT chiller assessment measurements of the carcase to be graded
  • 3.8 Generate an eating quality outcome for graded carcases
4. Operate MSA software and hardware to record grading details and generate eating quality outcomes
  • 4.1 Access and operate MSA software and hardware
  • 4.2 Enter, store, upload, sort, check and validate, interpret and submit data
  • 4.3 Generate grading reports according to workplace requirements
5. Apply vendor declaration information to MSA grading
  • 5.1 Identify and interpret essential information on vendor declarations and delivery paperwork
  • 5.2 Manage MSA vendor declarations according to MSA Standards
  • 5.3 Enter Data Capture Unit (DCU) defaults according to the vendor declaration
6. Identify MSA graded carcase product to demonstrate traceability
  • 6.1 Identify system for identifying graded product
  • 6.2 Apply slaughter floor ticket information
  • 6.3 Identify carcases appropriately for carcase sorting and cuts harvesting
7. Adhere to the MSA Standards Manual
  • 7.1 Complete all aspects of MSA grading according to the Standards Manual and Licensing requirements
  • 7.2 Grade carcases according to the MSA system
  • 7.3 Identify and resolve grading problems
No information
No information
Replaces
State Code National Code Title Type
BAY78 AMPA3092 Grade beef carcases using Meat Standards Australia standards Unit of competency
State Code National Code Title Type
BIZ5 AMP30622 Certificate III in Meat Processing Qualification