BEEF producers achieving outstanding compliance rates to Australia's eating quality grading system Meat Standards Australia will be recognised at a series of award events around the country next month.
Hosted by Meat & Livestock Australia, finalists in the 2019 MSA Excellence in Eating Quality Awards have now been announced.
The awards are presented to those who best meet MSA specifications and achieve high eating quality performance, as represented by MSA Index results for MSA graded cattle during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 financial years.
They will be presented for 'Most Outstanding MSA Feedlot'; along with two awards for 'Most Outstanding MSA Beef Producers' to recognise producers of both large and small (non-feedlot) MSA consignment volumes. One producer will also win the MSA Excellence in Eating Quality Progress Award for showing the greatest improvement in their MSA results since the last awards series in 2017.
Australian 'Lambassador', Sam Kekovich, will be guest speaker at the events, which are being staged in conjunction with the 'Consumer trends driving on-farm change' producer forum.
The South Australian event will be held at Naracoorte on 1 October.
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 a superior eating experience to consumers.
"It's a major achievement to be named a finalist, given that more than 15,000 producers throughout Australia consigned over 6.6 million cattle to the MSA program throughout the 2017-18 and 2018-19 period," Ms Strachan said.
The South Australian finalists are:
Most Outstanding MSA Feedlot:
- Iranda Feedlot (Thomas Foods International), Tintinara
- Korunye Park Feedlot, Korunye
- Princess Royal Feedlot, Booborowie
Most Outstanding MSA Beef Producer (Band 1):
- Burleigh Pastoral Company, Moorak
- AC, DL, & CA Stoeckel, Beacon Hill, Swan Reach
- Swiss Australian Farm Holding Pty Ltd, Naweena, Padthaway
Most Outstanding MSA Beef Producer (Band 2):
- Artimore & Partners, Tintinara
- Matinga Holdings Pty Ltd, Karoonda
- Mount Boothby Pastoral Co Pty Ltd, Tintinara
MSA Progress Award:
- Kuruman Pastoral Pty Ltd, Bowmans
- GM & MA Smith, Rendelsham
- Woodrise Pastoral Pty Ltd, Beachport
The Awards and producer forums are free and open to everyone, but registration is essential. To register, click here.
To find out more information about the MSA Program and the MSA Awards criteria visit: http://www.mla.com.au/msa