ENTRIES from all points of the compass have been received for what is shaping up as Australia’s first truly national beef carcase competition, taking place as part of the Beef 2015 event in Rockhampton.

Every Australian state is represented in entries received so far. While entries officially closed on February 28, processing of cattle entered into the competition will continue around Australia up to March 31, as different season cycles take effect.

To align with peak turnoff periods, entrants have had the opportunity to have their cattle delivered over a 10-month competition window to their nominated meat processor for carcase judging.

Late entries are still being accepted, provided they meet the March 31 final slaughter deadline.

Beef 2015’s competition coordinator, Jackie Kyte said to date, a total of 324 carcases had been assessed, representing 108 competitors from all mainland states plus Tasmania. Those assessments have been made in 11 abattoirs so far, with more to come.

Accepting the grand champion grassfed carcases award at Beef 2012 from former MLA MD Scott Hansen, is Peter Greenham Jr, collecting on behalf of cattle supplier Milton DeJong from Stanley in northwest Tasmania, whose Angus steers topped the competition.

A further nine plants are yet to perform their MSA kills for the beef 2015 competition, ending with John Dee at Warwick on March 31. Over-judge and experienced MSA grader, Janine Lau, MLA’s R&D team leader, is on hand at each site’s designated slaughter slot for competition grading.

It is estimated that there is at least another 100 head yet to be processed and assessed for the competition, before the March 31 deadline, meaning total numbers in the competition this year might exceed 420 head.

That’s easily a record for this competition, as is fielding entries from every Australia state for the first time. Three years ago at Beef 2012, there were 336 cattle represented from five states (access link to Beef 2012 report at bottom of page), but that will easily be eclipsed this time around.

Strong entries have been fielded this year out of Tasmania and Victoria, particularly in the grassfed classes, but numbers across all classes are evenly split between grain and grass divisions.

Entry details suggest every possible permutation of British, European, Japanese, Sanga and tropically adapted breeds will be represented, with many entries carrying two and three-way crosses.

Just some of the upcoming ‘competition’ kills include Daardanup Butchering Co in WA, HW Greenham in Tasmania, Northern Cooperative Meat Co at Casino, John Dee at Warwick, Teys Biloela and Rockhampton and JBS plants at Townsville and Dinmore. Competition kills scheduled at JBS Rockhampton may have to be relocated to other sites, due to the recent cyclone damage.

Most plants will be killing multiple entries for different competitors and classes.

This year there are six classes open to grain and pasturefed steers and heifers, ranging from 180kg to 420kg carcase weight to cover domestic to export categories.

Four judging criteria areas are being applied:

• Market specifications (25 points)
• Saleable meat yield (35 points)
• MSA index result (40 points)
• Pen bonus points (possible 8 points).

The event will provide a unique opportunity for beef producers from across Australia to benchmark their product on a national level, as well as receiving invaluable feedback on their entries’ performance in meeting market specifications, yield of saleable meat, and predicted eating quality.

The competition has been developed from the Australian Beef Carcase Appraisal System (ABCAS) by the National Beef Carcase Competition Committee of Beef Australia 2015.

Winners will be announced at the National Beef Carcase Competition Awards Dinner, to be held during Beef Australia at the Hegbold Stadium on Tuesday 5 May from 6.30pm. Tickets are now available.

The full schedule for remaining Beef 2015 Carcase Competition kills includes:

• 3rd March at ACC
  9th March at JBS Dinmore
  11th March at Teys Beenleigh
  12th March at Casino
  16th JBS Dinmore
  17th JBS Townsville
  18th Teys Biloela
  19th DBC
  24th Teys Rockhampton
  26th Casino
  27th Greenhams
  30th Kilcoy
  31st Warwick

• See Beef Central’s report from Beef 2012, where WA and Tasmanian exhibitors shared the major honours in the grain and grassfed carcase competitions.