THE finalists in the 2017 Meat Standards Australia (MSA) Excellence in Eating Quality Awards have been announced, with the first of the awards to be presented in Queensland next Friday.
The awards recognise producers throughout Australia who have achieved outstanding compliance rates to MSA specifications, as well as high eating quality, as represented by MSA Index results for beef carcases graded during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 financial years.
A ‘Most Outstanding Beef Producer’ and a ‘Most Outstanding Beef Producer – Grainfed’ MSA producer will be awarded in each state.
One producer from each state will also win the inaugural MSA Excellence in Eating Quality Progress Award for showing the greatest improvement in their MSA results since the 2014-15 financial year.
The awards are being staged in conjunction with the ‘What Makes the Perfect MSA Index’ producer forums in each state.
Speakers will include Dr Jane Weatherley, from the Integrity Systems Company, and MLA’s managing director Richard Norton.
MSA Program Manager Sarah Strachan said the awards were a great opportunity to recognise producers who were committed to producing beef that consistently achieved exceptional compliance rates to MSA’s strict specifications and delivered an outstanding eating experience.
“We congratulate the finalists in this year’s awards. It’s a major achievement to be named a finalist, given that more than 14,000 producers throughout Australia consigned almost 5.9 million cattle to the MSA program throughout 2015-17,” Ms Strachan said.
The finalists in each state are:
Queensland: Most Outstanding Beef Producer: Reardon Operations, Talwood; W & T Roche, Murrays Bridge and K.J. Wonka, Chinchilla.
Most Outstanding Beef Producer – Grainfed: Kerwee Feedlot, Jondaryan; Reardon Operations, Talwood and Woodland Farming Co, Oakey.
Victoria: Most Outstanding Beef Producer: CW Coyle, Barnawartha North; CW & IJ Delmenico, Ultima and MJ & KA Pund, Beechworth.
Most Outstanding Beef Producer – Grainfed: Alloa Pastoral Co, Milawa; RM Gillett & Co, Anakie and West Wimmera Beef, Nhill.
Tasmania: Most Outstanding Beef Producer: J.E. Firth, Barrington; JR & DJ Howe, Mole Creek and KJ Simpson, Mount Hicks.
There will be one award covering all Tasmanian MSA beef producers due to the small number of grainfed eligible beef presented for MSA grading during the assessment period.
Western Australia: Most Outstanding Beef Producer: SS & LM Ablett, Cowaramup; LE & EF Brookes, Bridgetown and MD & LL Cole, Nannup.
Most Outstanding Beef Producer – Grainfed: Carpenter Beef, Dandaragan; Kylagh Cattle, Tammin and Semini Enterprises, Treeton.
South Australia: Most Outstanding Beef Producer: Blue Lake Station, Kongorong; MR, GD & KH Rathjen, Springton and Swiss Australian Farm Holding Pty Ltd, Padthaway.
Most Outstanding Beef Producer – Grainfed: Englefield Grange, Wandearah; Iranda Beef, Tintinara and Tomich Pastoral Co, Lower Light.
New South Wales: Most Outstanding Beef Producer: R&J Baillie, Wiagdon; Crichton Kyle Pt Ltd, Young and JAC Wagyu, Bingara.
Most Outstanding Beef Producer – Grainfed: Bunnaloo Pastoral Co, Bunnaloo; Jabell Partnership, Finley and Rangers Valley, Glen Innes.
To find out more information about the Awards and forums in each state and to register, please visit www.mla.com.au/eieq
