A $10,000 MSA performance feedback trial is being conducted as part of Primex Field Days at Casino, NSW.
Compliant with Woolworths MSA grain-fed program and open to cattle from across Australia, the competition will provide producers with a unique opportunity to benchmark the performance of their cattle.
Entries close on January 14, with a minimum requirement of two teams of five or a pen of 10 steers to be entered.
The cattle will be fed at Ben Maher’s B-Feeders Feedlot at Warwick.
Primex Field Days director Bruce Wright said the competition aimed to reflect as closely as possible the real-life situation of cattle entering the grain-fed, MSA graded, domestic supply chain.
“The competition will reward those animals that not only meet requirements for carcase quality, but are also profitable at each stage,” Mr Wright said.
“The competition will provide detailed feedback on individual and group animal performance to producers about feedlot performance, compliance of beef carcases to market specifications, lean meat yield and eating quality of those carcases.
“The judging criteria has been developed from the Australian Beef Carcase Appraisal System for domestic market requirements and lean meat yield calculations in line with the latest research available to the beef industry.
“Points are only awarded for objective, measurable performance traits which are important for profitability at each stage of the supply chain. The winning team is the one which is most profitable through the supply chain.”
The Primex MSA Performance Feedback Trials are conducted in conjunction with Meat and Livestock Australia/Meat Standards Australia, Woolworths, Teys Australia and B-Feeders Feedlot at Warwick.
Prize money, vouchers and awards valued at almost $10,000 will be presented for feedlot performance, eating quality, carcase performance (ABCAS), lean meat yield, and to the grand champion entry.
Key dates
Nominations close on January 14.
Seven day settling by February 1.
Competition starts with weighing on February 4.
Mid-term field day and viewing day with weighing on March 27.
Delivery of animals to Tamworth for processing on April 15.
Processing and MSA grading on April 16.
Results calculated the week of April 29.
Presentations to competitors on May 16.
For further information contact Primex, 0499 888 905.
