Queensland graziers David and Rebecca Comiskey will face the ultimate test when they supply Meat Standards Australia (MSA) graded carcases for the Ascot Brahman Stonegrill at Beef Australia 2012, Meat and Livestock Australia reports.

Nine Brahman breeders, including the Comiskeys, were selected to supply the Stonegrill. The couple produce grassfed steers for the European Union (EU) and MSA markets from their breeding and finishing operation at Alpha.

The steers they provide will spend 80 days on feed at Melbrig Feedlot before grading at Teys in Biloela.

“We’re keen to compare feedback on the grainfed steers with the MSA information for our grassfed steers to see how our cattle grade after being on grain,” David said.

He said feedback they got from MSA was one of the biggest advantages of the MSA system, along with the consumer confidence it provided.

“We use MSA online feedback to determine why some of our animals haven’t graded and link our MSA data to our electronic life data.”

Recently, the Comiskeys increased their MSA compliance rate from 15% to 69% grading Boning Group 11 or better by ceasing to use hormone growth promotants.

They hope to attend the MSA workshop at MLA’s Innovation Marquee during Beef 2012.

MSA Manager and workshop presenter Michael Crowley will have a carcase on-hand to demonstrate the MSA grading process to producers during the sessions.

“We will discuss factors that influence eating quality, such as carcase weight, marbling and ossification,” Michael said.

Producers will have an opportunity to taste-test graded product at the workshop and learn about tools they can use in their own operation, such as the MSA feedback and benchmarking system and grading calculator.

Source: Meat and Livestock Australia