Warragul & Drouin Gazette

Industry demonstrat­es paddock to plate theory

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There is growing public interest for how food gets from paddock to plate and this was evident at the steer trial demonstrat­ion day at Lardner Park last week.

The trial provides local and regional farmers an insight to compare how cattle are performing on their own farms compared to those at Lardner Park, under controlled conditions and against other breeds.

Data collection assists farmers to improve the

Market report for 1st and 2nd November, 2017 Wednesday Fat Sale 211 head. Thursday Bull and Cow Sale, 8 bulls, 139 cows.

A yarding of predominan­tly vealers this week with an increase in numbers saw vealers sell to top of 336.2. Vealer quality still remains very good. 29 heifers made to 290 and averaged 258.2. 23 steers made to 300 and averaged 272.1. 131 veal made to 336.2 and averaged 278.5. The Thursday bull and cow sale was back in numbers with 139 head, 8 bulls penned due to Melbourne Cup. What was there sold well. Cows averaged 207.8, bulls sold to 275.2, with only 8 bulls the average 251.4.

1 LimX 1 CharX 1 Char 2 CleyX 1 LimX 7 Bld Steers 2 Ang 2 B/B Bullocks 2 Ang 1 B/B Heifers 4 AngX N Henderson, Wombat Ck 1 Lim TJ Hasthorpe, Tanjil Sth 1 Ang Rigano Brothers, Loch Export Cows and Heifers 1 Lim S&M Gummer, Drouin 2 Ang McCrorey P/L, Hill End 1 Ang Mt Worth Farms, Mt Worth 3 Hfd P&S Mammolito, Ygn Sth Dairy Cows 1 Flec R&C Monk, Poowong 2 Frn T Santucci, Drouin Sth 5 Frn I&L Cocksedge, Trafalgar 1 Ayr J&J Canobie, Drouin West 1 Frn CW Hobson, Catani 2 Frn M&J Winter, Warragul Sth 1 Frn IFES Company, Modella Bulls 1 Hfd 1 Ang 1 Frn

G Mainella 370 C&D Stuckey, Flynn 365 R&G Schuhkfaft, Childers 375 J&M Hall, Jindivick 320 M&J Diston, Drouin Sth 360 J&M Dyson Holland, L/tha 265

J Cochrane, NNG N Henderson, Wombat Ck

N Henderson, Wombat Ck D&K Carnes, Glengarry P&S Mammolito, Ygn Sth P Kyne, Thorpdale I&L Cocksedge, Trafalgar

Landmark, 3. Elders, 4. Scotts, 5. SEJ.

440 435

575 555

425 525 420

595 630 620 538

580 735 793 655 625 702 660

950 770 915

336.2 321.2 315.0 309.6 305.0 301.2

300.0 292.6

268.6 268.2

287.6 278.6 276.2

255.0 240.0 238.0 238.0

240.0 229.2 227.2 225.0 221.6 219.2 219.2

1243 1172 1181 990 1098 798

1320 1272

1544 1488

1222 1462 1160

1517 1512 1475 1280

1392 1684 1801 1473 1385 1538 1446

275.2 2614 258.2 1988 247.2 2261 1. NGL, 2. quality of their stock, growth response rates and ultimate financial return.

The weigh-in results showed an average daily weight gain of 1.44kg.

The demonstrat­ion day enabled steer trial entrants, farmers, local producers and hospitalit­y representa­tives to view a series of demonstrat­ions by Coles, JBS and Radford Meats.

JBS Abattoirs farm assurance and chain manager Mark Inglis provided a detailed carcass presentati­on revealing how the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) grading index is calculated including measuring pH levels, marbling, meat and fat color, rib fat and eye muscle area, and ossificati­on.

He said in Gippsland, where it is green most of the year, older animals will have lower ossificati­on and higher dentition, with ossificati­on providing a more accurate measure of the eating quality outcome, or maturity of an animal.

Specialist Coles butcher Peter Smith and representa­tives from Radford Meats then provided an expert boning demonstrat­ion and presented how trimming and slicing is maximised to produce various cuts of meat.

The audience was interested to learn that dependent on how the carcass is broken up, whether it is for a roast or stir fry, alters the amount of trim they are expecting, and from a measuring point of view, this is measured, all of it, every day, across 11,000 bodies per week.

The presentati­ons were compered by Steve Rennie, Coles National Livestock Manager for Beef.

“Coles greatly values direct connection with the beef industry and the Lardner Park carcass demonstrat­ion day was exactly that,” Mr Rennie said.

“Everyone attending found the day highly informativ­e and it was terrific to see the interest shown by so many breeders and producers through their questions and input.

“By bringing together Coles, Radford Meats and JBS, we were able to share the full journey from the weigh-in through to carcass grading, boning, slicing and cuts for retail sale, to the delicious sampling thanks to chef Leigh Marino’s beef samples,” he said.

More than 80 industry people attended the demonstrat­ion day.

Lardner Park chief executive officer Nicola Pero said they had a great response to the day.

“The cattle industry as a whole is core to Lardner Park and will continue to be so.

“We’re looking to develop expanded activities and events in relation to cattle breeders, primary producers, and the wide range of stakeholde­rs associated to the industry,” she said.

While the weigh-in was occurring, David Skinner from Bask Aerospace captured everyone’s interest with a presentati­on on their innovative drone system, providing an insight to the future of automation and a system that can be dropped at any location of a farm to undertake a wide variety of tasks.

 ??  ?? Coles beef production manager Peter Smith provides a boning demonstrat­ion during the steer trial demonstrat­ion day at Lardner Park last week.
Coles beef production manager Peter Smith provides a boning demonstrat­ion during the steer trial demonstrat­ion day at Lardner Park last week.

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