Prime lamb competition offers unique opportunities

By Joanne Marshall

January 18, 2006 -- Farmers wanting to get down to the nitty-gritty of prime lamb grading will soon have the opportunity to do so - using the latest scanning technology from Alliance Group.

Being run for the first time early next year, The Supreme-Cut Lamb Competition is open to all commercial sheep farmers and will be run along similar lines to the Central Progeny Test.

Organised for April 2006, the competition will measure lambs using the new VIAscan technology giving farmers involved a first-hand look at how their lambs measure up alongside others.

The competition, a fundraiser for Hauroko Valley Primary, in Western Southland, has the backing of Alliance Group Ltd, Ancare, Otautau Vets, Westpac, CRT, Ballance Agri-nutrients, ear tag company Kenmore and local trucking firm TSL.

"We have been told this competition is the only one of its kind," Clifden farmer and competition co-organizer Rohan Knowler said.

VIAscan technology, recently installed throughout Alliance Group Ltd plants, measures the meat less the fat and bone and, with increasing focus on meat yield production, the competition has tailored its categories to capture lamb yield performance levels.

Categories are:

Dressing out %

Meat yield: Loin

Meat yield: Leg

Meat yield: Total (loin, leg & shoulder)

Supreme Champion

The aim is to give farmers a snapshot of where their lambs are currently performing and also identify which breeds, or mix thereof, are achieving highly.

"It is a great opportunity for us commercial farmers to see which breed genetics are performing the best outside of the stud farm environment and then to see how our own lambs rate alongside others," Mr Knowler said.

"Until now we have had to stand back and watch the ram breeders take part in the CPT, eagerly awaiting the results. Well now we can all get a crack at it ourselves."

A prize-giving and BBQ will be held at the end of the competition where over $4000 of prize-money will be awarded to category finalists. Lamb breed details together with grading statistics of all finalists will be announced at the prize giving.

All other entries will receive their own placing results together with grading statistics so farmers can compare their own lambs with that of the finalists.

"There is huge scope for this competition as an annual or bi-annual event as farmers can use it to gauge their on-farm genetic progress and also use it as a marketing tool particularly for those who sell ewe lambs or two-tooths."