AS members of a group focused on premium meat sheep production, South East Poll Dorset breeders joined with others from across Australia for the annual conference of Meat Elite Australia recently.
Held at Moama in New South Wales, the conference included Glencoe’s Dale and Ruth Price of Majardah Rams with Mr Price being the Chairperson of Meat Elite Australia for more than 10 years.
Phil and Sharon Clothier, of Woolumbool Sheep Stud near Naracoorte, were also in attendance with a total of 16 Poll Dorset breeders from four States taking part, representing the top 10 per cent of Poll Dorset breeders in Australia.
Mr Price said the group is at the forefront of improving the excellent eating qualities of lamb as a source of protein and culinary pleasure.
“Members of Meat Elite have focused their attention on identifying and breeding superior sheep for the commercial lamb producers for some years,” he said.
“With participation in progeny testing, in-flock genomic testing and MLA (Meat and Livestock Australia) sponsored superior eating quality testing programs, the members’ flocks have provided leading genetics to other breeders and their commercial clients.”
Mr Price said the group often have guests who challenge the group’s progress and at the recent conference Gundagai Meat Processors CEO Will Barton spoke about his company’s efforts to identify superior carcasses with a grid that rewards producers for delivering lamb with ideal yields and intramuscular fat.
“Carcasses with superior attributes are identified using DEXA and an IMF probe achieving highly accurate results,” Mr Price said.
“Meat Elite members were particularly impressed with the comprehensive carcase feedback producers receive from GMP.
“The quality of feedback, once replicated by other processors, will significantly influence breeding programs across the industry.”
Conference keynote speaker, Dr Alex Ball spoke about similar initiatives in other industries such as the beef and fishing sectors.
Drawing on consultancy experience to government, the corporate sector and as a breeder and farmer, Dr Ball challenged members to continue their engagement in research and development.
He also touched on the challenges faced by meat producing industries by pseudo meat products and how best breeders and producers can meet these challenges.
Peta Bradley, newly appointed Sheep Genetics Manager, supported by Dr Daniel Brown, of the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit of the University of New England, provided a current perspective on their service delivery to the sheep industry and an insight on promoting genetic gain reinforcing Dr Ball’s comments.
At the conference, Meat Elite members committed their next research project to identifying the next generation of superior eating quality sires for the Australian industry.
