WIDER payment of lambs on eating quality traits is supported by the organisers and winners of the Central Murray BestWool Bestlamb Hoof and Hook Carcase Competition.

The competition is believed to be the first in southern Australia to assess lamb carcases on eating quality using Meat Standards Australia criteria, having assessed lean meat yield and intramuscular fat of entries for the past two years.

Central Murray BestWool BestLamb Group co-ordinator Rick Ellis says significant opportunity exists to improve the consumer eating experience through objective carcase measurement.

“Currently, sheep producers are paid on carcase weight which takes into account total fat and meat.

“In contrast, the competition evaluates carcases using the Meat Standards Australia sheep meat cuts-based grading scheme,” he said.

“This means sheep are judged on the quality of a carcase through measurements that guarantee a consistent product such as intramuscular fat (marbling – positive impact on eating quality) and lean meat yield (red meat proportion – negative impact on eating quality).”

To deliver a consistent, high-quality product, Rick believes the sheep meat industry must move towards a payment system that recognises quality, irrespective of breed or age, similar to the beef industry.

Advancing carcase quality is a key objective of sheep producers in the western Riverina and eastern Mallee. The annual event also provides entrants with valuable feedback and a space to connect with other like-minded and progressive producers. he competition, supported by a team of volunteers and facilitated by the Swan Hill District Show, allows producers to enter teams of three animals that are initially judged in a hoof class on conformation before being processed at Woodwards Swan Hill, where they compete on an array of traits that determine the most valuable carcase in terms of meat quality.

“There are numerous hoof-and-hook events in Australia in the beef industry, but there are very few sheep meat competitions that consider eating quality measurements,” Mr Ellis said.

“If you produce a good product, you should be paid for it and you should receive feedback objectively and transparently,” he said.

Mr Ellis said the competition used a near-infrared spectrophotometer or SOMA to assess intramuscular fat and lean meat yield on competition entries for the first time last year. The competition has been running about 10 years, with lambs processed at Woodwards Swan Hill.

Mr Ellis said the twelve producers this year entered 87 lambs, which was about 25 percent fewer than other years, and possibly due to the difficult season, rather than any change in the numbers of sheep on properties in the region.

Competition winners

Hoof competition – Grand Champion: DI Gitsham & Sons, first cross. Heavy Prime: DI Gitsham & Sons. Medium Prime: DI Gitsham & Sons 1^st; Uondo Pastoral 2^nd;  M & S Martin, 3^rd.

Heavy Merino: Wyana 1^st; Uondo Pastoral 2^nd; Wyana 3^rd.

Medium Merino: Ettershank Pastoral 1^st; Mulholland Poll 2^nd.

All Breeds Light: Moola Pastoral, 1^st; DD Kaylock & Co, 2^nd; Moola Pastoral, 3^rd.

Hook competition – Class 1 – 14-17.9kg: Winner and reserve champion carcase, DD Kaylock & Co, Merino, 267.29 points. Class 2 – 18-24.9kg: Winner and grand champion carcase, Eromunga Trust, crossbred, 268.05 points; DD Kaylock & Co, 266.70 points, 2^nd. Class 3 – 25-31.9kg: Mulholland Poll, Merino, 262.31 points, 1^st; Glenbar, Dorper, 261.45 points, 2^nd.

Winning lambs were grain-assisted

Most lambs in the competition came off pasture and not off crops or out of feedlots. The lambs were dropped mainly in April-May up to July, and processed on 17 September.

Mr Ellis does not believe that sheep have have lost acreage to grain production in the region.

“I don’t think the sheep numbers in our area have come off.”

But he believed eating quality and value-based lamb payment for lambs would increase the interest in sheep production.

“I think it is needed in the sheep industry.”

He believes it is important that processors start paying producers for eating quality, although some group members are a bit worried that their lambs might be discounted.

“I don’t believe that they will, it’s just that the meat with the higher MSA score will find probably niche markets.

“I don’t think there will be enough lamb meat globally for it to have an effect.”

Last year Merino lambs won many of the major placings and Merinos also performed well this year. This year the overall grand champion carcase  entry came from the Eromunga Trust at Moulamein with a Poll Dorset-Merino cross team that scored 268.05 points.

Eromunga Trust director Megan Glen said the weaned lambs came off pasture supplemented with grain. They came from the operation’s second draft of lambs after the first draft w2ere sold over the hooks. She said the trust previously won the hook competition in 2018.

“Our main focus is on assessing what our carcase qualities are against our breeding — that’s why we do it.”

She supported wider payment of lambs on eating quality traits and better feedback from processors.

“We’re more than happy to have feedback on our lambs.”

Lachlan Jeffers from Meat and Livestock Australia led the carcase judging and was impressed with the quality presented. During his awards night presentation, Lachlan highlighted the impact selecting and breeding high-performing animals has beyond the domestic market.

“A number of Asian markets and even the US are chasing consistent high quality red meat.

“By developing Australian sheep meat brands underpinned by consistent eating through MSA cuts-based grading, it ensures more sustainable market and customers in the face of positive and negative market factors, particularly competitors,” he said.

This year, LambEx, a biennial showcase of Australia’s sheep and lamb industry, ran a similar event with 1600 lambs entered from numerous states. The Central Murray BestWool BestLamb group extended its thanks to the Swan Hill District Agricultural & Pastoral Society, Woodward Foods Australia and MLA for their ongoing support.

The Central Murray BestWool BestLamb Hoof-and-Hook competition will run again in September 2025. Producers wishing to register their interest should contact Rick on 0428 372 357 or [email protected].