WEIGHT for age, docility, carcase compliance and more specifically their superior ability to finish off grass has Hereford and Hereford influenced cattle in demand for a grass certified program on the NSW Liverpool Plains.
Launched a year ago, the Elders Killara Feedlot’s grass certified program is run on the 1000ha of cropping and pasture country surrounding the 20,000 head feedlot at Quirindi, and supplying grass fed beef to Woolworths.
Killara is known as a leading supplier of high-quality grain fed cattle to both domestic and international markets, with feeding programs of 70 to 150 days.
Around 40 per cent of Killara’s grain fed cattle are destined for domestic markets with large lines of Hereford and black baldy cattle purchased for those domestic feeding programs.
The feedlot has moved to become a regular buyer of Hereford, black baldy and Hereford-Euro cross cattle from Roma and Dalby in southern Queensland down to southern NSW and northern Victoria for the new grass certified program.
Cattle enter the program at 400-500kg liveweight (an average of 440kg) and exit at 460-600kg liveweight, or an average of 540kg.
Elders Killara Feedlot general manager Andrew Talbot said over the past decade a growth in grass fed beef brands supplying the domestic market had changed the industry dynamics.
“The biggest change domestically is there are a lot more grass-fed programs in the supermarkets – there hasn’t been a big swing away from grain fed beef but there certainly is a lot of consumer demand for those brands such as Greenham Never Ever and no grain beef into the supermarkets,” Mr Talbot said.
“From a customer point of view, Killara understands production systems and we already have an existing procurement strategy – we are used to buying big numbers of cattle every week. For the feedlot we generally buy domestic heifers weighing 300-400kg, whilst for the grassfed program, we buy MSA eligible heifers and steers at 400- 500kg (liveweight).
“The paddocks were previously used to grow fodder for the feedlot but with this market opening and one of our customers being Woolworths wanting more grass finished cattle, we turned it into grass finished fattening paddocks.
“It dovetails quite well with our procurement for the feedlot. All of our supplier program for the certified grass fed is out of the paddock and the cattle need to be 100 per cent lifetime traceable, and grass fed eligible.
“Backgrounders trading cattle on farm need to ensure those cattle have full lifetime traceability which can be transferred to Killara, allowing visibility from birth to slaughter.
“We are committed to supplying our customer with cattle that have never been fed grain, are lifetime traceable and antibiotic and GMO free.
” Mr Talbot said cattle are vaccinated upon entry with Bovilis MH + IBR to prevent respiratory disease and producers were encouraged to pre-vaccinate at weaning.
The cattle are supplemented in the paddock with a grain-free ration containing pulses, molasses, vegetable oil and hay whilst grazing either oat or cereal crops, or irrigated ryegrass pastures.
Around 70 per cent of the cattle procured for the grass-fed program are (scanned empty) heifers and 30 per cent steers.
“Heifers finish quicker on the highquality oat, barley, grazing wheat crops or ryegrass pastures in 80 days with the supplementary feed and molasses. Later maturing steers are either here too long or they get too heavy by the time they are fat,” Mr Talbot said.
“We have to ensure the cattle are MSA eligible, or soft Bos taurus types and that is where the Hereford, with its finishing ability, suits the program well. Early maturity is critical.
” When it comes to the preconditioning processes with key suppliers, Killara prefers cattle to be yard weaned with access to hay, grouped in a mob and socialised.
“We are not buying weaners – the heifers are 12 to 20 months – if they are over 400kg we will take a percentage of two tooth, but they need to be good framed cattle with capacity as we aim to finish them to average 280-300kg carcase weight or 460-600kg liveweight (average 540kg) after 80 days.
“The cattle in this production system will have an average daily gain of 1.2kg across the year.
” Mr Talbot said a key driver of weight gain was animal health and having individual animals on a rising plane of nutrition.
He said improving rumen health in poor cattle at the start of a feeding period limited weight gain and there was a risk associated with compensatory weight gain.
Feedlot staff monitor the grass-fed cattle, pasture utilisation and water quality on a daily basis, and paddocks are spelled between mobs.
“In the winter months, the most success we have had is getting an early crop of oats in the first week in March, with those crops finishing in October. Ryegrass is sown in early April and once established is grazed through to December whilst summer grazing is sorghum/sudan grasses,” Mr Talbot said.
Set in a 650mm rainfall zone, the paddocks are top dressed with Urea and 15 tonnes/ha of feedlot manure to encourage quick establishment, optimal growth and recovery, and fodder production.
Under the program, 250 cattle are sourced each week and with growing demand for the end product, this number is expected to increase.
“As long as we have the production system and country to handle it, numbers could double to 400 a week,” Mr Talbot said.
“There is a minimum lot size of 30 head, but we love to buy them in bigger lines of 60 plus if possible.
“There is a premium for heifers above 400kg liveweight rather than below 400kg – we encourage people to get weight into their cattle, and as long as they are not already fat, there is a good price signal.
” Mobs of 250-300 cattle are grazed in 50ha paddocks for 80 days.
The paddocks are then spelled for a month before another mob is introduced, achieving three to four grazing rotations per season.
“We use an animal nutritionist to formulate a grass ration to ensure adequate protein and energy,” Mr Talbot said.
“The ration has around 13.5 per cent protein and 12 per cent metabolisable energy, and the consumption varies depending on the level of crop growth in the paddock. When there is a high level of crop growth, we limit the ration to 6kg/head – likewise if crop growth is decreasing, the ration is increased to 10-12kg/head, fed in paddock bunks.
” The carcase specifications are 220-350kg dressed, or an average of 280-300kg, with 5-22mm of fat, and an even fat distribution.
“The MSA Index scores generally average 61-62 – the reason that is so high is we are getting a good weight for age, so ossification is low and carcase weight high. Compliance rates sit at 99 per cent,” Mr Talbot said.
“With the Hereford and black baldy cattle, you can see their ability to really finish well in the paddock – they are deep bodied, weight for age is outstanding, and we don’t get any that become slabby or stretchy without finish. That is what we really like about them in this program. They are nice moderate framed, well fleshed and soft cattle.
“There are no issues with the carcase feedback on the Herefords – the percentage of dark cutters sits well below one per cent, the non MSA gradings is exceptionally low, and their dressing percentage and yields are good to result in a consistent product.
“The Hereford’s quiet temperament helps them settle in quickly.
” Producers interested in supplying the grass-fed program can contact Andrew Talbot or Killara supply chain manager Mark Mulligan at the Killara Feedlot.
Hereford heifers and steers are grazed on high performance pastures for
80 days under Killara’s certified grass-fed program. Image: Andrew Talbot
Hereford and Hereford influenced cattle are fed adlib in bunks with a grain
free ration to supplement the grazing cereal or ryegrass pastures at Killara.
