They might be croppers, first and foremost, but that hasn’t stopped Mallee mixed dryland farmers, Craig and Isla Delmenico, from setting a spectacularly high benchmark for the beef cattle industry to follow on their property Delco
With a small herd of trade cattle, the couple have designed and implemented a management program making theirs one of the national standout enterprises in the Australian herd.
The Delmenicos attribute their success to a focus on the relationship between handling of cattle and their performance.
It also explains how and why the couple were some of the stars at this year’s Meat Standards Australia (MSA) awards, with the Ultima-based business named Victoria’s most outstanding MSA beef producer. They had an average MSA Index of 64.17 – the industry average is just 57 and anything over 61 puts a herd in the nation’s top 10 per cent. Their MSA compliance is a flawless 100 per cent.
Running approximately 150 British breed trade cattle across their predominantly cereal operation, Craig says they target an average turn-off weight of 550kg for the supermarket trade – aiming for an average weight gain of 1.7kg/day.
The Delmenicos, who source weaners at around 250-300kg liveweight, believe the origin of the cattle can have an impact on their temperament and performance.
While it is dependent on the price and season, they prefer to source cattle from the south as they have typically had more exposure to handling and are quieter as a result.
“Once they arrive home, we focus on consistency with our handling – we use the same vehicle and same people to check the cattle each time, and even our agents know where to park when they visit so as not to alarm the cattle with an unfamiliar vehicle,” Craig says.
The Delmenicos use MSA as a tool to track performance and tweak their production system.
For example, they used MSA feedback to narrow down to one preferred carrier which handles and delivers cattle in a way that lets them perform as well as possible.
They’ve also seen the results of: Drafting cattle into weight classes as soon as they arrive; Drafting, drenching, and needling at once to reduce handling; Sorting cattle again into weight groups at least three weeks prior to transport.
The Delmenicos see benefit in the opportunities for continuous improvement that MSA feedback provides producers.
“We find the MSA Index useful as an indication of carcass performance and ensure MSA compliance to pH (below 5.71) and fat is achieved,” Craig added.
“We also keep an eye on P8 fat to ensure the cattle aren’t overdone.
“As an industry, access to data is critical to homing in on areas for improvement and working out how to get more from the cattle you buy or breed.”
