AngusPure Ltd Launches AngusPure Source and Trace

To help all parties in the value chain, we are announcing the launch of our Source and Trace system. This multi faceted programme will deliver certainty and value to breeders and finishers of Angus Cattle for the AngusPure, CABNZ, CANZ and McDonald’s Angus Burger options.

The system is based around a partnership between Performance Beef Breeders New Zealand (PBB) with HerdMASTER Software, and Allflex.

Commercial breeders will be encouraged to tag their weaners at calf marking this December/January with AngusPure tags in a special electronic pack that will be available exclusively from PBB at very attractive pricing. The back of the AHB barcode tag will be black and have the large 'A' logo of AngusPure.

This will mean that these weaners when sold in the future, either through saleyards, private treaty or direct to slaughter will be easily identifiable as meeting the breed criteria for our programmes. In addition the software will provide pen sheets to signify the background of animals in a sale pen. Please note that at present if the farmer signs an ASD form saying that cattle are by a registered or PRAC bull out of a minimum 50% Angus dam, the purchaser doesn’t get to see this until after they have purchased the line.

Tim Brittain, Chairman of AngusPure Ltd says. “That the easy identification of Angus cattle that meet our criteria will add value to all farmers and processing company partners. Farmers will have confidence that the stock they are buying are true to type and justify any premiums that they may command.”

The use and recording of cattle under this system will meet the criteria of all plants killing for any of the AngusPure programmes, both local trade and export.

The allocation of tags will be monitored and audited for AngusPure by PBB. When ordering tags you will be asked to give details of the bulls you have used. E.g. where did you purchase your bulls?

The electronic tagging will allow easy and accurate capture of weights and treatments to provide traceability of animals something that McDonald’s are looking to in the future.

Ultimately the real information recorded on cattle, if they are linked to sires will be able to be used to improve the reliability of breeding values.

Arron Hoyle, McDonalds Supply Chain Manager, Australasia, in a statement this week said “Certainly this will be a step in the right direction for Angus cattle farmers and for the industry in general. McDonald's fully supports whole of life traceability for livestock. We view whole of life traceability as an essential goal that all levels of the red meat industry need to be working towards. I applaud any effort in moving down the path that protects, and encourages NZ farmers and meat processors to embrace the opportunity to implement a livestock traceability program. Any work that can be done to minimize risk quickly and efficiently to isolate problems or disease are positive for the NZ industry”.

This is an exciting development and should provide real value to all partners in the AngusPure business.

If you have any queries please contact Tim Brittain Ph 027 593 5387 or
tim@storthoaks.co.nz

29th September, 2009