The cost of producing a winning carcass, as well as the value that meat ultimately offers to consumers, are among the new criteria that will be included in the South African Meat Industry Company’s carcass competition.

By Carien Kruger, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad

Tom Westphal, executive director of SAMIC, announced at the gala event for this year’s winners that the competition criteria will be expanded. Quality will remain the most important factor, but the new criteria will introduce elements of economic sustainability and consumer value, he said.

“Farmers need to be able to make money, but we also need to offer the consumer a good price.”

He added that it was important for farmers to deliver high-quality carcasses consistently – not only once a year for the competition or once a month, but throughout the production cycle.

SAMIC is also working to create a clearer correlation between the standards used to judge live animals and those used to determine the characteristics of a winning carcass.

Also read: Dormer and Brangus steal limelight at Royal Carcass Competition

This Year’s Winners

This year marked the 28th presentation of the competition for beef, pork and sheep carcasses. A total of 375 commercial producers and 25 emerging producers participated. The winners were selected from 49 national carcass competitions: 21 for lamb, 21 for pork, six for beef and one for goat.

Beef: Commercial Producer

Single: Ellewee van Zyl with 98,62%, Desert Beef Carcass Competition, Santa Gertrudis
Group: S.H. Niemand & Seun Boerdery with 91,82%, Lichtenburg High School Show, Bonsmara X

Beef: Emerging Producer

Single: Mashcat Farm with 84,46%, Obaro Rustenburg Beef, Simmentaler X
Group: PCR Farming with 82,19%, Elite Beef Carcass Competition, Boran/Brahman/Beefmaster

Goat: Commercial Producer

Single: Nicol Muller with 90,15%, Agri Molopo River Small Stock Show, Boerbok

Pork: Commercial Producer

Single: Berno Hambrock with 97,03%, SAPPO-VVM, PIC
Group: Niemen Stud with 89,28%, SAPPO Prime Pork, Duroc × FI

Pork: Emerging Producer

Single: Mandla Nkosi with 97,1%, SAPPO-VVM, PIC
Group: Mandla Nkosi with 86,12%, SAPPO-VMM Emerging, PIC

Lamb: Commercial Producer

Single: R.G. Crispen with 99,58%, Stella Slaughter Lamb Competition, Ile de France
Group: Bertus Steenkamp with 98,24%, Koras Slaughter Lamb Competition, Dorper

Lamb: Emerging Producer

Single: Juhillin van Wyk with 95,55%, Williston Agricultural Association, Dorper
Group: Juhillin van Wyk with 87,15%, Williston Agricultural Association, Dorper

Super ox: Commercial Producer

Single: Francois Page with 97,95%, Desert Beef Carcass Competition, Brangus X

Super ox: Emerging Producer

Single: Moyeshe Agri with 87,09%, Elite Beef Carcass Competition, Bonsmara X

Pork: Commercial Producer

Heavy baconer (81 kg – 110 kg): Berno Hambrock with 97,1%, SAPPO-VVM, PIC
Cutter to light baconer (65 kg –80 kg): RK Boerdery with 93,7%, SAPPO Stonecreek, PIC
Porker (20 kg – 55,99 kg): Hazeley Top with 72,4%, SAPPO Winelands Pork, PIC

Pork: Emerging Producer

Heavy baconer (81 kg – 110 kg): Mandla Nkosi with 97,1%, SAPPO VMM Upcoming, PIC
Cutter to light baconer (56 kg – 80 kg): T. Tjale with 89,1%, SAPPO Potgietersrus, PIC
Porker (20 kg – 55,99 kg): Leolo Agri with 82,4%, SAPPO Potgietersrus, Large White