Hillside Notice Board

WA QLamb event of the year - Tue 2nd August 2011

The WAQLamb committee wish to thank all members and interested people who attended to the WAQLamb B2B (Back to Basics) Day held in Narrogin on the 2nd of August. The day was a fantastic success. We would especially like to thank our speakers: Prof David Pethick (Murdoch), Reg Crabb (Milne Feeds), Dr John Milton (UWA), Polly Trefort (Hillside & MLA), Dr Anna Erickson (DAFWA) and Glen Feist (MLA G.M. Marketing). Proceedings of the day can be found on the WA QLamb Website.

Afternoon tea was sponsored by Pfizer Animal Products and following the B2B day refreshments were supplied by Landmark Narrogin.

Thanks to the support of MLA, during the refreshments we thoroughly entertained by the Australian Lambassador Sam Kekovich , with his irreverent take on life and the lamb industry. Sam then took questions on his first love Aussie rules and his beloved North Melbourne. His insight, depth of knowledge and cander was truly amazing. Thanks Sam for the great effort to you undertook to be with us. 

The morning was taken up with the WA QLamb AGM, where Wayne Leeson was elected as the Chairman after Erin Gorter stepped down due to her massive new work load. Thanks Erin for the Awesome effort you have put into WA QLamb over the last 5 years.

Are your lambs Fit To Load?
As a producer/owner and/or transporter you are responsible for the welbeing and safety of animals in your care. Under the Welfare Act of 2002, you are responsible for only loading animals that are 'Fit to Laod'.
Before loading any animal, Check that:
  - can walk normally
  - can bear weight on all legs
  - is free from visible disease or injury (including fly strike)
  - is strong enough to keep up with the mob
  - can see out of at least one eye
  - is not in late pregnancy
IF IN DOUBT - LEAVE IT OUT        Read More.. Farmnote:430

NLIS EARTAGS - 2011  No Exemptions
From early 2011, all lambs & sheep transported will need to have an aproved NLIS year coloured ear tag. There will be NO EXEMPTIONS, even lambs delivered directly from property of birth for slaughter will need a NLIS eartag. The year colour for 2011 is Green.
No NLIS Tag = No Tracebility = No Delivery.    Read More... 

Livestock NVd's
Although the NVD form has been in existence for nearly a decade, we are still receiving lambs with incorrect NVD's. The NVD is a legal document and when signing you are acknowledging you have met all the regulatory requirements contained and implied. With the recent spate of stock thefts, the Livestock Compliance Unit (LCU) and Narrogin Detectives are looking at NVD's very closely, and have indicated they will pursue incorrect forms. Many infringements have fines up to $5000.

Any lambs delivered to Hillside Abattoirs MUST have a valid NVD, even for service kill or private kill lambs.

If you do not have a valid & corect NVD, DO NOT UNLOAD!. 

ESI's (Export Slaughter Interval) and Zolvix - 115 Days!
Most producers would be well aware of the launch of the first new family of drenches since the Ivomectin family over 25 years ago. While the new Orange Group drench Zolvix is very welcome, please be aware although this new drench has a withholding period of 14 days it has a ESI of 115 days!!!, (nearly 4 months). Zolvix should be used with great caution when considering dosing lambs! If you have used Zolvix, it must be recorded in question 4 of the the livestock NVD that livestock are still within withholding periods and also in the Additional information section, even if they are outside the withholding period. Read More...

Any lambs still within the ESI must not be delivered to Hillside or any export abattoirs.

Urgent Note to Q Lamb Members
If you wish to claim the Q Lamb MSA Bonus for eligible lambs, you must put your MSA Number in Section 7 of your NVD. If the number does not appear, it is assumed your lambs are not eligible for MSA Sheepmeat. Read More..........

*** Livestock Bookings ***

Octoer 2011 - No Bookings - Not Processing - Office Open.
Hillside is in recess for the month of August. The main office is open and can be contacted on 9881 1016

November 2011 - Bookings TBA

Trade Lambs delivered to Hillside need to be between 18kg to 28kg dressed weight and between 6mm and 15mm Fat at GR.

Ring Rob to enquire about price grids & booking space. (Grid 14/3/2011)

Light Lamb Carcasses - Airfreight Export Market
Hillside are still processing forward Score 1 to Score 3 lambs with an average carcass weight of 15.5kg (max 20.0kg, min 13kg) 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.

Dorper Lambs
Hillside has a breed specific order for Dorper and DorperX lambs. Dorper lambs are processed for the home delivery & export company: Dorper Lamb pty ltd. They have a requirement for 200 lambs per week. Contact Rob or Graeme Howie to discuss bookings. WA QLamb member bonuses also apply to Dorpers.

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.

Livestock Delivery Ramp at Hillside

The new unloading ramp at Hillside has now been in use for nearly 12 months. It was manufactured by Douglas Stockyards and after a few minor modifications is functioning well. 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 (sign-posted) 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 new wash-down bay is in, but not equipped at this stage.

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

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).

MSAQLamb 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.

Reg joins Milne Feeds
WA QLamb congratulates Milne Feeds for the appointment of Reg Crabb to their support team. As QLamb members know, Reg was a co-founder and inaugural chairman of WA QLamb. His knowledge and experience with WA QLamb and the sheep industry in general will be invaluable to Milne Feeds and producers. Reg will be specialising is Milne's sheep customers so we look forward to having "access" to him once again on a regular basis.

This season is proving to be very challenging for most producers and economical finishing of lambs will be critical. Reg with the backing of Milne will bring sound practical advice and options for making good decisions to manage this season. 

Reg can be contacted on 0428 009 288.

Q Lamb Awards & Prizes
There are two prizes given at the end of each month for Q Lamb members:
     
1*  Producer of the month; Awarded to the Q Lamb producer gaining the highest points for lambs delivered to Hillside on the Q Lamb Price Grid.
            
              July 2011 Winner: No Winner (not processing)

2*  'WA Q Lamb in a box' draw (value $250); drawn at random from all Q Lamb members delivering Qlambs in that month.

              July 2011 Winner: No Winner (not Processing)

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

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

WA QLamb 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 flavor, 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. Existing QLamb members need to be registered for MSA Sheepmeat to receive the QLamb MSA price bonus.

If lambs are eligible for MSA, you must place your MSA registration number in section 7 of your NVD.

For more information enter the MSA website.

To register for MSA online you will need your PIC, LPA UserID & LPA Password to register: Register for MSA Online

To register for MSA by downloading the form and faxing it to MSA: Download MSA

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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.

Read more...