Meat and Livestock Commercial Services Ltd (MLCSL) was formed in April 2006 to provide an appropriate commercial structure with a better-defined identity ahead of the implementation of the Levy Board review.
As the Operations Group of the MLC, the department had provided independent services and equipment on a commercial basis to the meat and livestock industry since the MLC was formed in 1967.
MLCSL now carries on those independent services and continues to develop its business, which provides services, equipment and advice on a national basis throughout the UK contributing to the industry efficiency and profitability.
The core role of MLCSL staff within those abattoirs that purchase livestock on a deadweight basis is to provide an independent, unbiased and impartial service to the vendor and buyer to identify these key characteristics through the classification of livestock, verification of dressing specification and checking of weighing scales. This is done using highly trained staff.
This service is provided where it is requested on a fully commercial basis. It is carried out in compliance with EU regulations which require all abattoirs above a certain size to classify all cattle, clean pigs and young boars to EU standards.
Of the finished livestock produced in Great Britain today, more than 99% of pigs, 78% of cattle and 50% of sheep are sold on a deadweight basis. The amount of money paid by the abattoir company to the farmer is based on the key characteristics of the resulting carcase that are important to the buyer. These are principally the breed, sex, age and weight together with the assessment of the level of fatness and the conformation of the carcase.
These key characteristics provide clear indications of the meat yield and muscle shape that are important determinants of carcase quality. As such they form the basis for the classification schemes for beef, sheep and pigs and as a result are also widely used as the basis of payment to the vendors of livestock.