Entries are now open for the 2018-19 Southern Grassfed Carcase Classic with beef producers urged to learn how their beef stacks up for eating quality and market suitability.
In 2017-18 the event cemented itself as Australia’s largest annual grassfed beef carcase competition, with 1269 cattle from 45 producers.
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The SGCC committee are hoping to match this interest, especially with many South East producers enjoying good weight gains through winter.
Cattle – in groups of 10 head or more – will be received at Teys Australia’s Naracoorte abattoir until late February next year and will be judged using the Australian Beef Cattle Appraisal System.
The only change to the competition is an alteration to the weight ranges in the single steer or heifer classes to more evenly distribute the entries. The classes are now 180-260kg carcase weight, 260-340kg and 340-420kg.
More than $20,000 was raised for the Royal Flying Doctor Service in 2017-18 and one percent of the proceeds of the cattle will again be deducted to support this worthy cause.
Chairman Ben Glatz says the SGCC is immensely beneficial for producers to benchmark their carcase attributes against other progressive producers, especially with both crossbred and purebred animals accepted.
“Producers can gain invaluable knowledge of the modern beef grading system and a better understanding of how to evaluate the extensive carcase feedback,” he said.
“This feedback can be utilised for continual improvement of management practices, market suitability and genetic improvement.”
Keilira producer Mark Bruce has been an entrant for the past nine years and says he is continually learning.
The Bruce family, Boonoonar Partners, has earmarked about 60 autumn 2017-drops and similar numbers of spring-2017-drops Angus steers for the competition again this year.
‘We want to produce the best beef we can and of the highest eating quality and get as many of our cattle making the MSA grade where the prices are higher,” he said.
“At the dinner it is good to talk to other producers about what they are doing on-farm and if it is a tough season what they have done to get through.”
Penola producer Allan Kain has stepped down from the committee and Mr Glatz thanked him for being a driving force in the event’s huge growth over the past decade.
- Details: Kitty Sheridan 0427 027 981 or Ben Glatz 0407 712 455