BEEF Australia is calling for for final nominations into its national carcase competition, with entries closing at the end of February,

The AMPC National Beef Carcase Competition, supported by MLA Meat Standards Australia aims to give feedback on compliance of beef carcasses to current premium market specifications.

Nominations will close one month prior to the intended slaughter date of the entrant’s cattle, with the last slaughter date offered on Thursday 29^th February 2024.

Beef Australia CEO Simon Irwin said the competition has been incredibly successful to date.

“Since opening nominations in April 2023, we’ve seen entry numbers on par with the 2021 competition, representing producers across Tasmania, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia”, Mr Irwin said.

“With participating processing plants in almost all states and territories, this is a truly national competition and one that producers can proudly put up their best carcase against the rest of Australia.

“Winners will be announced at the AMPC National Beef Carcase Competition, supported by MLA Meat Standards Australia Awards Dinner on Tuesday 7^th May at Beef2024”.

Beef Australia’s National Beef Carcase Competition Committee chair David Hill said the competition was developed from the Australian Beef Carcase Appraisal System.

“The appraisal system is specifically designed to meet both export and domestic market requirements, and entrants will receive feedback on the compliance of their nominated beef carcases to market specifications, lean meat yield and predicted eating quality,” Mr Hill said.

“A new class has been introduced into the 2024 competition, allowing for weights of 360 kilograms or over into a new Open Class unrestricted feeding section.

“We’ve also introduced a new award category for the most successful plant, which recognises the hard work each participating plant contributes to the success of the competition.

“If you have not entered the AMPC National Beef Carcase Competition before, I strongly encourage you to consider nominating for 2024 before it’s too late”.

Queensland Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner encouraged beef producers from across the country to try their luck up against their Queensland counterparts.

“We know we have some of the best beef in the world right here in Queensland, but it would be great to again see what the rest of Australia has on offer,” Mr Furner said.

“With the new class that’s been added and the new award category, I can already tell this is going to be a very hotly contested event.

“We are now well into the countdown for Beef2024, and I know it’s one of my highlights as Queensland’s agriculture minister”.

Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC) CEO Chris Taylor said they are proud partners of the AMPC National Beef Carcase Competition.

“As the research and development corporation supporting red meat processors across Australia, this competition allows beef producers from across Australia the unique opportunity to benchmark their product on a national level using an appraisal system that meets both export and domestic market requirements and uses the latest technology”, Mr Taylor said.

“The accurate and reliable measurement of carcase attributes underpins the great success of Australian red meat products both domestically and globally, supporting over 128,000 jobs across the processing sector alone.

“We are proud to work with the industry and our research partners on developing and commercialising innovative solutions and delivering value for the supply chain”.

• Nominations can be submitted by visiting www.beefaustralia.com.au/carcasecompetition.

Source: Beef Australia