Part of a program expected to increase industry profitability by $523 million over the next 25 years, through improved lean meat yield and quality, the project found that using methods such as bioscan, ultrasound and measuring cuts when the carcase had been boned out produced results that doubled the amount of accuracy in predicting yields.

Dr Gardner said industry methods, such as hot standard carcase weight measurements, were relatively inaccurate for measuring yields.

"We're coming up with a range of different ideas to try and increase the amount of options abattoirs have," he said.

Dr Gardner said increasing accuracy and decreasing the amount of fat trimmed off lambs would have money values for abattoirs, but figures would not available until early next year.

Producers were also expected to benefit through another part of the project, which focused on increasing red meat yields through improved genetics.

Dr Gardner said lean meat yields in sheep breeds ranged "enormously" from 15 per cent to 20pc.

"If they have access to improved genetics then they can start targeting sires that will produce lambs with higher lean meat yield, higher growth weights and reduced fat," Dr Gardner said.

Dr Gardner said the CRC aimed to achieve a 5pc increase in lean meat yield across the Australian flock.