Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 1:28 AM AWST
22/07/2026 1:28 AM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Break carcase into primal cuts
Break carcase into primal cuts
Unit of competency
National Code
MTMSR301B
MTMSR301B
State Code
W6844
W6844
TGA Status
Deleted
Deleted
DTWD Status
Deleted
Deleted
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
19/10/2007
Field of Education
110105 - Butchery
Original Release Date
19/10/2007
Nominal Hours
40
Description
This unit covers the skills and knowledge required to break the carcase into primals and trim according to specifications.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Break carcase into primal cuts
- 1.1. Carcase is accurately separated into primal cuts according to workplace, Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S), Quality Assurance (QA) and hygiene requirements.
2. Handle knife effectively
- 2.1. Knife is handled safely, hygienically and effectively.
RANGE STATEMENT
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Primal cuts may:
differ according to
customer specifications
end use
species
workplace specifications.
include:
beef - rump, round or knuckle, silverside or outside, topside or inside, loin, shins, chuck, blade or clod, rib set, brisket, flank
deer - legs, rumps, loins, shoulders, forequarters
goat - legs, shortloin, ribloin, chump, forequarters, breasts
kangaroo - legs, tail butt, loins, shoulders
pigs - legs, rumps, loins, foreloins, forequarters, belly/spring
sheep - legs, shortloin, ribloin, chump, forequarters, breast
veal - legs, loins, forequarters, shoulders.
Workplace requirements may include:
enterprise-specific procedures
hygiene and sanitation requirements
OH&S requirements
QA requirements
Standard Operating Procedures
the ability to perform the task to production requirements
work instructions.
OH&S requirements may include:
enterprise OH&S policies, procedures and programs
OH&S legal requirements
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which may include:
coats and aprons
ear plugs or muffs
eye and facial protection
head-wear
lifting assistance
protective boot covers
protective hand and arm covering
protective head and hair covering
uniforms
waterproof clothing
work, safety or waterproof footwear
requirements set out in standards and codes of practice.
Hygiene requirements may include:
clean work wear each shift or day
cleanliness of work area
hand washing
head covering
personal hygiene
sterilisation of equipment.
Cut specifications may be defined by:
customer specifications
industry standards.
For meat retailing, carcases must include beef, sheep and one of the following species:
crocodile
deer
emu
game meat
goat
kangaroo
pigs
or any other species.
For smallgoods manufacturing, carcases must include a minimum of one species from:
beef and/or veal
deer
game meat
goat
kangaroo
pork
sheep and/or lamb
any other species.
Communication may involve:
applying mathematical skills to workplace requirements
communicating and working with people from a range of cultural, social and ethnic backgrounds
listening and understanding; speaking clearly and directly
reading and interpreting workplace-related documentation
the use of communications technology.
Regulatory requirements may include:
Export Control Act
hygiene and sanitation requirements
relevant Australian Standards
relevant regulations
requirements set out in AS 4696:2007 Australian Standard for Hygienic Production and Transportation of Meat and Meat Products for Human Consumption
state and territory regulations regarding meat processing.
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Primal cuts may:
differ according to
customer specifications
end use
species
workplace specifications.
include:
beef - rump, round or knuckle, silverside or outside, topside or inside, loin, shins, chuck, blade or clod, rib set, brisket, flank
deer - legs, rumps, loins, shoulders, forequarters
goat - legs, shortloin, ribloin, chump, forequarters, breasts
kangaroo - legs, tail butt, loins, shoulders
pigs - legs, rumps, loins, foreloins, forequarters, belly/spring
sheep - legs, shortloin, ribloin, chump, forequarters, breast
veal - legs, loins, forequarters, shoulders.
Workplace requirements may include:
enterprise-specific procedures
hygiene and sanitation requirements
OH&S requirements
QA requirements
Standard Operating Procedures
the ability to perform the task to production requirements
work instructions.
OH&S requirements may include:
enterprise OH&S policies, procedures and programs
OH&S legal requirements
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which may include:
coats and aprons
ear plugs or muffs
eye and facial protection
head-wear
lifting assistance
protective boot covers
protective hand and arm covering
protective head and hair covering
uniforms
waterproof clothing
work, safety or waterproof footwear
requirements set out in standards and codes of practice.
Hygiene requirements may include:
clean work wear each shift or day
cleanliness of work area
hand washing
head covering
personal hygiene
sterilisation of equipment.
Cut specifications may be defined by:
customer specifications
industry standards.
For meat retailing, carcases must include beef, sheep and one of the following species:
crocodile
deer
emu
game meat
goat
kangaroo
pigs
or any other species.
For smallgoods manufacturing, carcases must include a minimum of one species from:
beef and/or veal
deer
game meat
goat
kangaroo
pork
sheep and/or lamb
any other species.
Communication may involve:
applying mathematical skills to workplace requirements
communicating and working with people from a range of cultural, social and ethnic backgrounds
listening and understanding; speaking clearly and directly
reading and interpreting workplace-related documentation
the use of communications technology.
Regulatory requirements may include:
Export Control Act
hygiene and sanitation requirements
relevant Australian Standards
relevant regulations
requirements set out in AS 4696:2007 Australian Standard for Hygienic Production and Transportation of Meat and Meat Products for Human Consumption
state and territory regulations regarding meat processing.
EVIDENCE GUIDE
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment
The meat industry has specific and clear requirements for evidence. A minimum of three forms of evidence is required to demonstrate competency in the meat industry. This is specifically designed to provide evidence that covers the demonstration in the workplace of all aspects of competency over time.
These requirements are in addition to the requirements for valid, current, authentic and sufficient evidence.
Three forms of evidence means three different kinds of evidence - not three pieces of the same kind. In practice it will mean that most of the unit is covered twice. This increases the legitimacy of the evidence.
All assessment must be conducted against Australian meat industry standards and regulations.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Competency must be demonstrated over time and under typical operating conditions for the enterprise.
For meat retail the candidate must be able to::
break carcase into primal cuts for a minimum of three species (including beef and sheep)
identify primary cut specifications for beef and at least two species of small stock.
For smallgoods manufacturing the candidate must be able to:
break carcase into primal cuts for a minimum of one species
identify primary cut specifications for at least one species.
Context of, and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must occur in the workplace under normal enterprise or production conditions or in a simulated environment.
Resources may include:
appropriate knives and breaking equipment cutting lines; specifications for primals for two species.
Method of assessment
Recommended methods of assessment include:
quiz of underpinning knowledge
workplace demonstration
workplace referee or third-party report of performance over time.
Assessment practices should take into account any relevant language or cultural issues related to Aboriginality or Torres Strait Islander, gender, or language backgrounds other than English. Language and literacy demands of the assessment task should not be higher than those of the work role.
Guidance information for assessment
A current list of resources for this Unit of Competency is available from MINTRAC www.mintrac.com.au or telephone 1800 817 462.
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment
The meat industry has specific and clear requirements for evidence. A minimum of three forms of evidence is required to demonstrate competency in the meat industry. This is specifically designed to provide evidence that covers the demonstration in the workplace of all aspects of competency over time.
These requirements are in addition to the requirements for valid, current, authentic and sufficient evidence.
Three forms of evidence means three different kinds of evidence - not three pieces of the same kind. In practice it will mean that most of the unit is covered twice. This increases the legitimacy of the evidence.
All assessment must be conducted against Australian meat industry standards and regulations.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Competency must be demonstrated over time and under typical operating conditions for the enterprise.
For meat retail the candidate must be able to::
break carcase into primal cuts for a minimum of three species (including beef and sheep)
identify primary cut specifications for beef and at least two species of small stock.
For smallgoods manufacturing the candidate must be able to:
break carcase into primal cuts for a minimum of one species
identify primary cut specifications for at least one species.
Context of, and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must occur in the workplace under normal enterprise or production conditions or in a simulated environment.
Resources may include:
appropriate knives and breaking equipment cutting lines; specifications for primals for two species.
Method of assessment
Recommended methods of assessment include:
quiz of underpinning knowledge
workplace demonstration
workplace referee or third-party report of performance over time.
Assessment practices should take into account any relevant language or cultural issues related to Aboriginality or Torres Strait Islander, gender, or language backgrounds other than English. Language and literacy demands of the assessment task should not be higher than those of the work role.
Guidance information for assessment
A current list of resources for this Unit of Competency is available from MINTRAC www.mintrac.com.au or telephone 1800 817 462.
Replaces
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| E1774 | MTMSR301A | Break carcase into primal cuts | Unit of competency |
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| D9118 | MTMSR301C | Break carcase into primal cuts | Unit of competency |
| S6297 | MTMR319A | Break carcases for retail sale | Unit of competency |