Absolute consistency right throughout the value chain was the key driver for one of the country’s biggest feedlots, according to its managing director.
Rangers Valley, Glen Innes, New South Wales managing director Keith Howe said the company was a global beef brand, exporting to more than 20 countries.
He told producers at the Team Te Mania Fast-Tracking Genetic Gain Workshop, in Warrnambool, customers were looking for consistency, which had to be delivered right through the supply chain. “Producers say, ‘we are not producing baked beans, we are dealing with the elements,’ well that doesn’t work when you are sitting in front of a chef and he has to put 500 steaks out on a plate,” Mr Howe said. “He doesn’t want to see that difference, so our job is getting that consistency in our brands and getting that right, is where the value is.” Mr Howe said the market was being driven by primal cuts.
“Our job is to say, this is a carcase hanging on a hook, how then, do we find the best markets for this grade, for these primals, to make sure we get the best returns.”
The Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit’s Matt Wolcott said it was hoped to develop a new cow condition estimated breeding value. He was now working on the Trans Tasman Beef Cow Profitability Program. “A lot of this new project is seeing where we can exploit what we have learned in northern genotypes, to drive productivity and genetic progress in these female traits in the south.”
“We are hoping to better understand female reproduction in these genotypes, include that in your genetic evaluation, and allow ourselves to benchmark female reproduction, as we apply selection pressure to these important carcase, steer feedlot performance aspects of productivity.”
