Livestock Bookings

March has seen a decrease of sheep numbers in the sale-yards.  Lamb prices are stil very positive with exporters and processors active in the market place. This great returns continue for those turning off lambs, but making it even harder for producers looking for store stock to finish or breed from.

New Price Grid - updated 08/03/2010
A new Multi-grade Price Grid was launched in Feb  2010. Q Lamb Members can check the Q Lamb Website for the new price grid. Non-members please feel free to contact Hillside for a price Grid.

New Delivery Ramp at Hillside 

The new unloading ramp at Hillside is now in use. It was manufactured by Douglas Stockyards and after a few modifications is now in use. The unloading sections against the truck are fixed with the ramp raising & lowering at the far end. At this stage it is for trucks only, as the ramp is at standard truck height.

The entry to the new ramp is via the First Entry on the right at the abattoir. Keep veering right and enter the ring road. Upgrades are still in progress and eventually the ramp will have a roof and a small (low) vehicle delivery point will be installed.

The original ramp is still in use for small lots that go to the 'Top Lairage' and low utes & trailers.

March 2010 - Space Available.
Bookings for March are filling slowly, and there is still some space left on Sunday 15th and Thursday 18th. As we still have had no summer rain, stubbles and pastures appear to be hanging on longer than in the past. Lambs coming in that have not been supplementary fed are now struggling to meet the score 2 minimum fat class. I strongly recommend weighing and scoring now  as lambs need topping up with grain or pellets. 

Lambs delivered to Hillside need to be between 18kg to 25kg dressed weight and between 6mm and 15mm Far at GR.

Ring Rob to enquire about price grids & booking space.

MSA QLamb Price Grid
MSA eligible WA QLamb members, are continuing to receive a premium for these lambs. WA QLamb Members Please log into the QLamb Website  to view the latest MSAQLamb grid (you will need to be a QLamb member and registered on the waQlamb web-site to be able to log in)

Please remember if your QLambs are eligible for MSA you MUST put your MSA number in Section 7 of your NVD to qualify for the bonus.

Light Lamb Carcasses - New Price-grid released Feb 2010
Hillside are still processing forward Score 1 to Score 3 lambs with an average carcass weight of 15.5kg for our airfreight chilled carcass market to the Middle East. Demand and therefor Prices have increased significantly in this market. Some of our producers now finish lambs specifically for this market.
Ring Rob for a Price Schedule.

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).

There are two prizes given at the end of each month for Q Lamb members:
     
1*  Producer of the month; Awarded to the producer gaining the highest points for lambs delivered to Hillside on the Q Lamb Price Grid.
    
2*  A WA Q Lamb in a box (value $192); drawn at random from all members delivering lambs in that month.

Check the Q Website to see if you are a winner.

If you are interested in joining WA QLamb, have a look at the Website and contact us on the link below.

Web site: www.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.

All new WA QLamb members must Register for MSA.

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.

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