Concerns over livestock production practices have resulted in increased consumer preferences for certified products. Australian beef buyers’ survey data revealed the preferences of consumers who would buy differentiated beef based on animal welfare, safety, health, or environmental-friendly considerations. Female respondents are more likely to buy certified animal welfare products. Buyers with children, and those who value branded beef, are more likely to buy products differentiated by a bundle of credence attributes. Given that Australian beef consumers eat similar amounts, there are opportunities for differentiating beef products according to credence attributes and offering them in a range of retailers.

Retail beef markets not offering objective grade indicators in-store leave consumers uncertain about the quality of beef they purchase. The introduction of fresh brands can better meet consumers' expectations. Willingness-to-pay for 'ideal' quality cuts represents the maximum premiums brands could achieve. Using Australian consumers' survey data, the maximum premiums are modelled using zero-inflated negative binomial models. Results indicate that buyer's characteristics and perceptions about product attributes influence the premiums for high-quality beef that consumers are willing to pay for a cut considered 'ideal', indicating the maximum premium that brands could achieve in relevant segments. The premiums indicate there is substantial potential for beef cuts that reduce purchase risk by more assuredly meeting buyer's preferences in Australia.

Australian beef consumers have different preferences given their characteristics and the effect on expected quality of cues related to health, production process and eating experience. Beef brands using Meat Standards Australia (MSA) grades can help to signal quality and reduce consumers' uncertainty when shopping. The objective of this study is to identify the characteristics of beef buyers and their perceptions about product attributes that affect the propensity to buy branded beef. Binary logistic models were applied identifying differences between all respondents and the potential target market, including buyers in medium to high income segments, and between buyers in the target market who would buy branded beef for taste and health reasons. Variables increasing the propensity to buy branded beef include previous experience, appreciation for branded cuts and concern about quality more than size. Finally, variations in preferences for marbling and cut were found between buyers who would buy branded beef for taste and health reasons.

Accepting that increased climate variability will require that farmers make significant changes to their farm systems, we can see that maintaining flexibility is an important coping strategy. Using general systems theory, we offer a conceptual model for describing the tactical and strategic flexibility of farm systems to reveal the sensitivity of farm systems to variable critical inputs. The model is used to classify farm systems as rigid, robust, or elastic on the basis of two factors, the capacity of the farmer to reduce reliance on critical inputs by altering the following: (i) the use of critical inputs and (ii) farm output. The different production emphasis for the different types of systems has implications for how these farmers are able to respond to increased variability and on public policies that may support viable farm businesses in the face of increased variability. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.