ON FARM SOUTHERN CATTLE COMPLIANCE p Big‑picture SNAPSHOT: Robyn and Boyd Hoare, ‘Yambacoona’, Kingl carcase feedbackIsland, Tasmania T asmania’s programs annually and premiums. The remaining King Island consistently achieves 97% 80% of their turn‑off, which is renowned MSA compliance. are mostly steers, are sold for its quality “MLA’s MyMSA and LDL to stores for finishing. pasture‑raised beef, but systems allow us to access “It’s really important to itsremote location poses MSA results the day understand how each Area: after they’re processed,” individual animal is 970ha someunique challenges for producers. Robyn said. performing, regardless of if Enterprise: they’re directly consigned Cattle breeding and finishing The only meat processor on “We use these results to help to MSA processors, and LDL King Island closed in 2012, ensure we’re on track in gives us that information Livestock: meaning cattle now travel terms of compliance and to so we can maintain a Angus more than 13 hours by ship assess how we’re performing complete picture of our herd,” and truck to processing. over the longer term.” Robyn said. Pasture: A self‑confessed data Improved ryegrass Despite this, Robyn Hoare Through the ‘bred but not (pictured) is adamant her enthusiast, Robyn uses consigned’ feature of the Soil: business Hoare Family the benchmarking feature LDL system, breeders can Sandy loam, clay Cattle has never been more through LDL to evaluate access carcase information connected to the supply chain management decisions on animals they have bred Rainfall: than with MLA’s Livestock and track how the business but not directly consigned to 900mm Data Link (LDL) system. is going in relation to the processor. producers on the mainland. Robyn Hoare Launched in 2015, LDL This information includes E: lawboyd@bigpond. enables the flow of carcase “Our management approach average, minimum and com information between is a balance between maximum carcase weights, processors and producers. pasture improvement and P8 fat measurement and lean To see Robyn’s story, It allows producers to genetics, while maintaining meat yield. visit mla.com.au/ assess individual carcase herd numbers and meat KingIslandLDL performance against known quality,” she said. “The ‘bred but not consigned’ If their processor market specifications. report allows us to see how participates, producers “We base our bull selection their weights have been, can access the LDL “For us, it’s all about ensuringon intramuscular fat, how their fat cover has been system through their our beef enterprise remains eye muscle area and and what their meat yield is,” National Livestock viable into the future, and calving ease.” Robyn said. Identification System we rely on data from LDL to More than processor data “By using different features of user ID and password. verify and evaluate these Hoare Family Cattle is the LDL system, such as this For more information management decisions,” predominantly a breeding report, we’re able to confirm about MLA’s Integrity she said. operation, with Robyn that we’re on the right track Systems and LDL or to Robyn consigns 150 finishing approximately through data analysis, rather register, visit head to Meat Standards 20% of their annual turn‑off than by making assumptions mla.com.au/ldl or email Australia (MSA)‑branded on‑farm, targeting MSA on our performance.” ■ ldl@integritysystems. com.au 27