The 43rd Lardner Park Steer Trial has just commenced, with entrants participating from all around Victoria.
Compliant with the Coles QA grass-fed program, the trial’s aim is to achieve the best outcomes for both during-trial information and data collection, and purchase price on carcass meat when the trial is turned off in early December, as a domestic grade with a specification of between 210-285kg HSCW (hot standard carcass weight).
This is the only grass based steer trial in Australia and producers are provided with the opportunity to assess cattle under independently controlled grazing conditions.
Lardner Park CEO Nicola Pero said: “Lardner Park places great value on the importance of stakeholder engagement and partnering.
“We’re extremely happy to announce the partnering commitment with Coles, Coopers, Gallagher and MLA for our 43rd Lardner Park Steer Trial.
“Coles provides excellent support through their QA grass-based program and their association with JBSSA for the purchasing and processing of the carcasses at the end of the trial – and we’re really looking forward to hosting their on-site visit to demonstrate distinct differences between perfect and not perfect carcasses, something everyone should be interested in if they are looking to gain top dollar on their cattle.
Lardner Park Farm Manager Anthony Willems introduces the trial.
“Coopers Animal Health have been a consistent supporter of the trial through comprehensive livestock health management with their products, on-site visitation and information sharing through presentations, and donation of product prizes.
“We welcome Gallagher this year who are providing the TW-1 Weigh Scale for the monthly weigh-ins, and donating the TW-1 as an end-of-trial prize.
“We are also delighted to welcome Meat and Livestock Australia as a sponsor to the trial and look forward to disseminating important industry information and data from them.
“Interest has come from across the country with people subscribing to the trial data and updates as not everyone is able to enter livestock.
“The strategic importance is high, not just for those with steers in the trial but for those interested in different genetic outcome productivity, suppliers of products to the industry – in fact stakeholders through the whole value chain.
“Agricultural schools should be signing up, livestock agents, cattle breeders and societies, to disseminate the information to their memberships, abattoirs, and media.
“Monthly weigh-ins, weekly v-blogs and end-of-trial data sheets will all assist in informing of comparative outcomes.
“It costs nothing to subscribe if you are unable to physically enter steers this year – so really, why wouldn’t you?”
New in 2017 will be weekly video updates from Farm Property Manager Anthony Willems which highlight weather and feed conditions and the effect on cattle progression.
Online video of the monthly weigh-ins will also be broadcast although entrants and subscribers are encouraged to attend in person.
Speakers will be presenting at monthly weigh-in lunches hosted at Lardner Park and promoted in advance so attendances can be planned for both weigh-ins and presentation topics of particular interest throughout the trial.
At the end of the trial there will be an on-site visit at Lardner Park which will feature detailed boning demonstrations followed by preparation and cooking demonstrations.
These will be ideal for farmers, chefs and restauranteurs, livestock agents, processors and suppliers and will give them the opportunity to see in detail the ideal and less than ideal carcass components allowing them to fully appreciate what is required to achieve that top-dollar return on the best possible meat cuts.
An evening of entertainment, industry speakers and a premium meat eaters dining experience will follow.
Engagement is being undertaken with school programs to help foster Victoria’s future farmers, inviting involvement from these future farmers while they are still at school, and promoting wider distribution of the trial data.
Lardner Park encourages agriculture students of all ages to connect with the trials.
To receive regular updates on the program, content sharing, opportunity to access trial data and an invitation to the boning, preparation and cooking demonstration together with the meat-eater gala dinner, sign up on the website on the Steer Trial Information page.
For further information contact the office at Lardner Park on 5626 1373, email office@lardnerpark.com.au or visit lardnerpark.com.au.
