SA's top MSA beef producers recognised |PHOTOS

At Meat Standards Australia's Excellence in Eating Quality awards at Naracoorte this week some of these top producers were recognised from more than 900 registerd producers who consigned more than 390,000 cattle to licensed processors from July 2017 to June 2019.

SA's average MSA index was 60.07 - well above the national average index of 57.62 and SA turned off 6pc of the cattle graded nationally.

RELATED: SE Angus breeder wins MSA award

Adrian, Dawn, Colin and Roz Stoeckel, Beacon Hill, Swan Reach, took out the top gong for the most outstanding producer in band one , the larger producer category.

The Stoeckels target 600kg liveweight cattle to Teys Australia's Naracoorte abattoir from their Angus herd and were among the first producers to supply Teys' 36 degrees south brand.

In the past couple of years the dry seasons have forced them to reduce their numbers from 400 breeders to 250 breeders but we are pleased still able to turn off cattle with high MSA indexes.

Adrian said he was thrilled the family had been recognised having only switched to beef from prime lambs 13 years ago.

"I really didn't think we had much hope of being the number one because we are up aganst such big producers and such good ones so to do that for a small family show we are pretty rapt," he said.

Their average MSA index was 62.36 with 99.5pc compliance rate.

Most outstanding beef producer in Band two was the Johnson family, Mount Boothby Pastoral Company, Tintinara who run 400 Angus breeders and turn off milk vealers and yearlings above 400 kilograms liveweight for supermarket trade.

During the two year period they sold more than 200 cattle average MSA index of 64.9, with very low ossification and marble score of 330.

Andrew said they ran a diversified farming business but aimed to do "everything right" focussing on good genetics but also renovating lucerne, clover perennial pastures every 10 years.

"The consumer is most important consideration and they are requesting a number of things not just consistency and quality. It is also about the way we treat our animals and manage our animals and MSA ties all that up to ensure there are some guarantees in place," he said.

Most outstanding beef producer in the feedlot category was Thomas Foods International's Iranda feedlot, Tintinara, which also claimed the same title in the 2015-2017 period.

The 15,000 head feedlot had an impressive compliance this time of 95 per cent and average MSA index of 62.81, although had some some graded cattle up to 72.8.

Iranda feedlot manager Tom Green said the MSA progam has been fundamental in opening global markets and retaining them.

"Now more than ever where red meat protein is expensive it is important that every piece of meat we put out there and every meal we produce is a good experience so that they come back and continue to eat beef,' he said.

The progress award for the producer showing the biggest improvement in MSA compliance and MSA index went to Peter and Brenda Saint, Kuruman Pastoral Pty Ltd, Balaklava.