HillNote 2008-1
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Forward Kill Space Bookings

May - Fully Booked - wait listing
With the unseasonable dry spell (although all the 'old timers' will tell you; "The REAL break is not until the 3rd week in May"), lamb supply is still strong, with May now fully booked. I have some lambs wait-listed, for gaps to open up as some growers a finding some of their lambs may not have finished as well as expected when they come to weigh and score them.
Generally lambs have bee of exceptional quality, but the odd few have slipped back into Score 1. This is mainly from woolly lambs that look better than they are. It's a simple job to place your hand on them to make sure.

June - Filling Now
June is filling well with space still available most weeks, although the first week is pretty tight. As soon as it rains and the diesel starts flowing, lamb supply will be tight, so please continue with your lambs going through your feedlots, and please make a booking to avoid feeding them any longer than necessary.

New MSA QLamb Price Grid
Hillside has opened up a new price grid for MSA eligible WA Q Lamb members, with a premium for these lambs. Q Lamb Members Please log into the QLamb website to view the new grid www.waQlamb.com.au

Light Lambs - a new market
As seeding and the end of the lamb season are imminent, some growers may be wondering what to do with the lambs they haven't had time to finish. We are also seeking forward score 1 to score 3 lambs with an average carcase weight of 15.5+kg for our airfreight chilled carcase market to the Middle East. Please ring for a quote on these types of lamb.

Store Lambs We are also seeking store lambs to finish in members feedlots. Any grower that has lambs they do not wish to finish themselves please contact us to discuss this avenue of supply.

Western Australian Q Lamb

The WA Q Lamb alliance involves nearly two hundred of Western Australia's top lamb producers. These producers work closely with Hillside to produce Australia's best lamb - leaner, tastier and better value. WA Q Lamb is in the process of becoming fully underpinned by MSA Sheepmeat program. (See Below).

Web Sitewww.waqlamb.com.au
Hillside Abattoirs and MSA Lamb

Meat Standards Australia (MSA®) is a tenderness guaranteed program for beef and sheepmeat, based on extensive meat science research. All sheepmeat underpinned by the MSA guarantee has met strict criteria to ensure it meets consumer expectations for eating quality; tenderness, juiciness and flavour, and is labelled according to recommended cooking method.

Hillside Abattoirs is fully registered for the production of MSA lamb. Producers wishing to participate in the MSA program will need to be licensed with MSA. If you are Hillside Producer you can check your MSA registration status by logging in here.

For more information enter the MSA website.

A pair of "cap-on" frenched racks gained one of only two gold medals presented to WA Q Lamb in the Branded Lamb Classes (MSA Sheepmeat). The Hillside processed Dorper Lamb brand won a silver medal in the grain fed category - and another in the grass fed class.

A pair of cap-off frenched racks of grain fed lamb entered under Hillside Tender Meats brand took off a bronze.

These wins will entitle the same cuts of these brands to carry Sydney Royal Fine Food 2008 medals. All Q Lamb already carries the "Buy West, Eat Best" logo.

CONGRATULATIONS to all Hillside Staff and suppliers whose dedication to quality and high standards has helped achieve these outstanding results.