Australian Hereford producers will hear how they can value add to their commercial cattle through a new branded beef program at a series of forums across the eastern seaboard next month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Herefords Australia is rolling out two new brands – Hereford True Beef and Hereford Classic Beef – catering for grassfed and grain assisted purebred and British bred crosses with a 50 per cent Hereford component.
Information forums for producers, stock agents and industry stakeholders will be held at Wagga Wagga on February 9, Bathurst on February 10, Barraba on February 11 and Glen Innes on February 12.
Under the branded program, eligible steers and heifers will be hormonal growth promotant free, have a hot standard carcass weight above 150kg and be processed by Atron Enterprises, of Casino, NSW.
Guest speakers at the forums will include Herefords Australia chief executive officer John McKew, Atron Enterprises livestock manager Heidi Hayes, Meat Standards Australia Livestock Supply Chain Co-ordinator, MLA, Terry Farrell, and AUSMEAT trainer and auditor Ben Robinson.
Topics to be covered include the branded beef program, MSA grading and compliance, interpreting AUS-MEAT results, MSA feedback information and Meat and Livestock Australia’s Target 100 program.
Each forum will run from 10.30am until 3.45pm and includes a complimentary lunch.
Herefords Australia chief executive officer John McKew said the forums would outline how producers could leverage the integrity of the Hereford breed to optimise profits and create increased demand for whiteface cattle.
Mr McKew said participants would hear from the processor regarding the livestock requirements and processing specifications.
“Producers will be able to find out how they can capitalise on demand for their Hereford and Hereford/British bred cross cattle,’’ he said.
“There will be information on avoiding dark-cutters to improve MSA compliance and interpreting feedback to optimise performance.’’
Mr McKew said the beef brands had been considered by the Herefords Australia board as a key strategic imperative for the breed’s long-term sustainable growth.
The Hereford branded beef program will be launched in Sydney this year and progressively rolled out to Brisbane and Melbourne markets.
The flagship brand, Hereford True Beef, is a grassfed premium purebred Hereford product destined for the high-end food service sector, and with a strong emphasis on primal or sub-primal cuts.
