Cattle being grown out for Hewitt’s Certified Organic program

RESULTS from this year’s Meat Standards Australia index performance rankings released recently suggest that Certified Organic beef has come a long way in the past 20 years.

Limited by access to some supplements, parasite controls and production tools, Organic cattle once struggled to perform as well as conventionally managed animals in northern envirtonments.

But for the year ended 30 June, the five best-performed larger volume MSA grassfed suppliers in Queensland – and 12 of the top 16 – were all Certified Organic cattle producers.

Results were based on a combination of MSA index scores, and MSA grading compliance rates.

To add to the result, all five top placegetters came from a variety of geographic zones, and used a diverse genetic base within their beef production systems.

Queensland’s top five (larger supplier category) non-grainfed MSA suppliers last financial year were all part of the Cleaver’s Organic Beef supply chain. They included:

• Pearson family, Bull Creek Pty Ltd, Taroom (annual average MSA index 61.02; compliance 98.29pc) (click here to read earlier winners’ case study)
• Bruce Proud, Baronga Cattle Co, Roma, second (index 61.26; compliance 95.28)
• JC Mayne & Son, Wealwandangie, Springsure third (60.1; compliance 99.84)
• Hewitt, Pony Hills Injune, fourth (59.85; compliance 97.96)
• Iain Scholes Braemar Investments, Mena Park, Blackall fifth (60.43; compliance 95.33).

Three other Hewitt certified organic properties were not far behind in this year’s MSA performance standings:

• 8^th: Hewitt  Charleville (index 59.66)
• 11^th: Hewitt Tambo (index 59.19)
• 13^th: Hewitt Moura (58.73)

Twelve of the top 16 large category MSA suppliers in Queensland this year were Certified Organic. Collectively, the group achieved 96pc compliance against MSA grading, with 91pc of their cattle achieving index scores above 52.

The annual MSA consignments within last financial year’s top five group ranged from 607 head to 3800 head. Genetics in use ranged from straightbred Santas (Bull Creek), to NT-bred Droughtmaster cross types (Hewitt Injune) and Hereford and Angus cross types (Baronga).

To put the results into context, MSA index scores for all suppliers Australia-wide last year was 57.52, with non-grainfed supply averaging 57.94.

All eight producers mentioned above are regular suppliers to Hewitt’s Organic program, based out of Toowoomba. Hewitt operates Australia’s biggest Certified Organic beef supply chain, accounting for around 1000 head per week, and growing.

Genetics, management keys

So how is it possible to get Certified Organic cattle to perform at such a consistently high level?

Hewitt’s general manager of livestock, Ben Bateup, puts the results down to gradual refinements in genetics, plus cattle husbandry and pasture management.

The non-use of HGP under Certified Organic requirements also clearly has an impact on MSA Index scores.

Hewitt’s main supply footprint runs from Clermont in the north, west to Quilpie and the Channel Country, and south below Roma, covering a vast spectrum of land and pasture types and climatic zones.

“When I came to the business two and a half years ago, I’d come out of the conventional beef stream – and I was blown away by the results being achieved,” Mr Bateup said.

“There’s a number of main drivers behind that progress. Firstly, bull selection plays an important part,” he said.

Over the years Australia’s Organic industry has somewhat been challenged by external parasite management.

However as Organic production has expanded through Central and Western Queensland, more emphasis has been placed on selecting the right genetics to balance external parasite tolerance and meat quality grading outcomes. There are now a lot more British-based bulls in use – Angus and Ultra blacks especially – delivering better meat quality prospects, Mr Bateup said.

While Hewitt’s annual cattle supply is still drawn from a vast area of Queensland – both ticky and tick-free – there was more focus now on breeding a softer animal.

From left, Mick Hewitt, Ben Hewitt, Peter Gall.

MSA Index role

However the Hewitt supply chain has placed a lot of attention on drafting and marshalling different cattle for specific eating quality outcomes, based on MSA index performance.

“Having a diverse domestic and international customer base means there’s a home for all types of Organic beef,” Mr Bateup said.

He said there were relatively few five-eighth indicus types being managed these days, with more production ranging from zero content to three-eighths or 50pc indicus.

“It’s been a gradual adjustment, but even within our Santa and Droughtmaster supplier base, more cattle are being selected on EBVs for eating quality.”

However genetic selection for superior weight-for-age was also important – especially as Organic supply chain partners do not have access to synthetic growth production inputs like HGPs and ionophores.

“It’s important we get as much natural weight for age into the animal as we can,” Mr Bateup said.

“Slick-coat and short hair helps with parasite management, especially if they should end up in Central Queensland due to seasonal changes. Apart from that, it’s the basics of frame and depth, to deliver a good carcase.”

Seasonal aspect

The past year’s MSA results also clearly reflected the return to favourable seasons from 2020 until earlier this year, Mr Bateup said.

“But beyond that obvious seasonal impact, there’s been a lot of focus within our supplier group on biodiversity management and groundcover management,” he said.

“Our suppliers are more aligned with supplying us long-term, on an annual turnoff basis, rather than just jumping in on an attractive grid for a premium, these days. They are looking after their places, looking after their feedbase, to turn off a more consistent article, a lot more of the time.”

“For example since the end of June, the season has started to work against most of our suppliers. Carcase weights have declined around 30kg on average, but we are still maintaining MSA index scores around what we did throughout 2022 when seasonal conditions were much better. Having said that, our weights are still within the realms of a typical grassfed Jap ox.”

Herd management

Better and improved pastures, the introduction of legumes as feed, plus improved genetics has resulted in increased conversion rates throughout organic herds, allowing for earlier finishing and turnoff.

While nutritional support was less of a factor for the previous two good years, drier conditions through 2023 means cattle have sometimes been moved around the supply property network to take pressure off suppliers, and help improve ground cover.

Eating quality focus

With many livestock suppliers delivering cattle into the network for 10 years or more (both before and after the acquisition of the former Arcadian business by Hewitt) there’s been plenty of opportunity to fine-tune production systems based on MSA and carcase outcomes in the chillers, Mr Bateup said.

“Peter Gall, who has driven the program for Arcadian for many years, was able to communicate with the supplier network that eating quality was going to be a key in delivering premiums in Organic programs,” Mr Bateup said.

“The complexity of our organic meat customer base – in particular, US retailers – is what has driven our suppliers to achieve MSA grading scores like this.”

“Carcase weight is something we cannot control to the same extent as other conventional cattle producers can, but MSA quality through using the right breeds and right genetic types of cattle, together with managing pastures and cattle is something we can all influence.”