Analytical Review of Beef : Educate !

Our final assignment for our Australia trip is an analytical review of something we learned throughout the trip and to compare it to something in the Animal Industry in the United States. Throughout this trip we as students constantly found ourselves comparing what we have heard, learned, and saw throughout our college classes and just our knowledge on the Animal Industry here in the United States. Each and every stop we made there were several differences, but also very many similarities amongst our industry. The subject I have decided to talk about in my analytical review is the consumer demand for beef.

Grain-fed steak

As I stated in my last blog entry of day 3 and my blog titled “A Trip That Won’t Be Forgotten”, the high demand for beef in Australia is a very lean, grass-fed, and hormone free product. I was very surprised when many of the producers said that they have conformed to this way of producing their beef. The consumer demand for this beef product is comparable to our high marbled steaks here in America. When we were having dinner with some Hereford producers in Albury, they said that if they didn’t conform to the grass-fed, hormone free beef, they would no longer be in business. This was just a shock to me! One reason is that we as Americans try our best to promote our wonderful marbled beef products and educating as many consumers as possible. In Australia they have trouble getting the word out to the public; it is just a huge space and so little people to educate consumers on the quality of beef products.

Grass-fed Steak

There are many factors that are behind this demand for lean beef (personally that would be low-quality for me). The main factor behind this driving demand is the little if that disappearing of fat of the Australian beef product. In the minds of an Australian they will tend to gravitate towards a lean beef product compared to high quality beef product (very good in marbling).

When I talk about how important I believe in educating consumers about the animal industry I mean it. I think we need to educate those about the grain feeding, growth enhancements, or various scientific aspects effecting meat quality. If you prefer a leaner beef then that is okay. Many of us animal agriculturists just would like you not to select the lean beef for reasons that you are uneducated on. If you are from Australia and reading this there is a website put on my MLA, which is like our National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). Please take a look at these two websites! You can find MLA here and NCBA here. Are there differences in the two websites? Whoever you are please educate our consumers on the real reason to choose your beef product and not for the uneducated reason.

In the end it comes down to what the consumer will prefer and what is the most profitable for that reason. I don’t know about you but I like big thick and juicy steaks, there are plenty to go around. If the consumer wants it then they are willing to pay money for that beef product and they want to best quality. This is why we as Americans have such a tough job, that is making consumers happy an educated.

When it comes down to it our industry and some of the Australia industry needs to educate the consumers about the products we use on our cattle, or the feed that goes into the animal. In our world today it is scary to see what could happen if we do not educate the public about our animal industry, and especially the meat industry it will be hard to face the challenges as producers for what the world meat industry will want to conform to in the future.

What is in the future of the Meat Industry?

Hope you all enjoyed this !

-Kara

A Trip That Will Never Be Forgotten

Now that we have arrived back to the United States and many of us have gone our separate ways, whether it may be starting a new job, or internship we all have been able to reflect on our trip to Australia. As I began my first day of Quality Assurance Intern at Indiana Packers Corporation today, I realize how blessed I am to be back in Indiana where I come from. They were very welcoming today and I am sure I will learn an endless amount this summer.

As far as the Australia trip I was able to participate in, I learned very many things that I will be able to use throughout school and as I grow up. Until I got to Australia I did not realize how different of a culture they have. Most people don't think of it much of being a different culture, but until you actually experience it is a whole different story. As for the agricultural operations we got to tour, my classmates and I learned how differences in production and processing can effect the final outcome. For me it was very interesting to go through the abattoirs and see how their production compares to America. Today as I was walking through the production plant on my internship, I am able to relate the differences and similarities between our practices and the Aussies. I think an eye-opener for me and my classmates was the sheep plant. Many of us have not had the opportunity to see this in America, because sheep is not a high priority here in the states. Now as for Australia it is one of their main "crops." The plants were very efficient in how many sheep they were producing per day and their harvesting process worked. As we went through the plants many of us noticed a difference in their product verse ours. The Australia beef, and sheep are very lean compared to what we have in America. There was not much marbling to their product verse what we like here in America.

I also enjoyed visiting the cattle operations. I always like to compare operations and in Australia they are somewhat different then here in the states. I think the operation that had their head going in the right direction was Spry's Shorthorn operation. They have a bull that won the Sydney Royal and brought a decent amount of money. Their goals are in the right direction, and we might even see some of their product in America in the future. Another operation that stood out to me was Trigger Vale Genetics, this family operation proved that even through some hard times they all still work as a family and share the same goals. The Merino breed in Australia has proven to be one of the best wool types, and getting to feel it and see it up close, I can see why it is such as great wool product for the wool market.

Lastly, I would like to say that this trip will never be forgotten. I will always treasure the moments I got to share with Dr. Schaake and his family, and most importantly the fellow K-Staters, and the friendships that will last a long time. I know I will never forget the memories I shared with everyone while I was in Australia. I would like to thank the ASI Department, Mishelle, and the College of Agriculture for letting me be a part of this trip and a representative of Kansas State University on such a great opportunity.

Cheers !
-Kara Schwarzkopf

June 1 : Day 10

June 1, 2012 : Day 10: Cairns to America

Today our morning started out at 3:30 in the morning. We left our hotel and got our boxed breakfast for on our way back to the airport. The boxed breakfast wasnt that great so in the trash it went. Our first flight is Cairns to Brisbane then from Brisbane to L.A. I slept the whole way from Brisbane to L.A. I was pretty tired ! Our next flight is from Dallas to KC and then its on our way home !

-Kara

May 31 : Day 9

May 31, 2012: Day 9: Cairns

View from the boat 

Today was the day we have been waiting for. We were going to the Great Barrier Reef. When we woke up this morning it still was raining unfortunately. We were not going to let the rain stop us though. So we all walked to the dock to board on a boat to travel about fifty minutes to Green Island . At Green Island we can learn how to snorkel, and take lessons on scuba diving if we choose to do either when we get to the Great Barrier Reef. I decided to take lessons on scuba diving , because that was one of my goals of getting to do on this trip. Soon after taking lessons we boarded another boat that took us about fifty minutes to the Great Barrier Reef. Once we arrived to our destination our scuba diving group was assigned a time that we would be diving which was 2:30 p.m. This meant that our group had time to eat and snorkel to practice our breathing since when we would be scuba diving we would be under water for at least 30 minutes or more. I had never snorkeled before which is very interesting. Plus I got to swim over corals see the beautiful creatures that were in the sea. I saw some big fish, jellyfish, and much more. Acutally breathing through my mouth wasnt that hard either once I got the hang of it. Next up was scuba diving this meant we got to go down far into the Great Barrrier Reef and see up close to the many creatures that were below what I already had seen snorkeling. We got to touch coral, some fish, and we saw many other creatures of the sea that I had never seen before. Words cant describe how awesome scuba diving was! I had a great experience that I will never forget.

Kaycie Shearer and I getting ready to head far down in the Great Barrier Reef

Soon after scuba diving it was time to load up on the boat again and travel back to our hotel at Cairns. Once we got back we all packed and got ready for dinner. This was our last dinner in Australia. After supper we got to finish shopping if we wanted and also do whatever else we wanted we just had to be up by 3:00 in the morning to leave by 3:30 to board our plane for tomorrow.

-Kara

May 30 : Day 8

May 30, 2012 : Day 8 : Sydney to Cairns

Seven o'clock rolled around pretty early today. There was a big day ahead of us and we were ready to take it on, we were headed to Cairns. We had a good breakfast to start the morning off and then was off to the the airport to get on our way. Cairns is located in the tropical North Queensland.

After we arrived in Cairns we looked around the city and then went to the Tjapukai Cultural Centre. Here we explored the Aboriginal culture. The Tjapukai means " People of the Rainforest." We learned how they survived and still do in some parts of Australia. Then they taught us how to throw a boomerang and how to throw a spear. Needless to say it was very eventful. Some of our group members are pretty good at that. Also the Aboriginal culture has very colorful paintings and dances for certain meanings in their culture. They also put on a Didgeridoo demostration that was very entertaining to listen to.

We learned a bunch from their culture and then checked into our hotel for the last two nights of our time in Australia.

-Kara

P.S. It is raining here and hopefully does not rain when we go to the Great Barrier Reef tomorrow !

May 29 : Day 7

May 29, 2012: Day 7 : Wagga to Sydney

After a long and busy night we all were up and packed by 7:00 in the morning to leave for another destination in Australia. There were a group of us that toured Wagga Wagga late at night. We met with Dr. Peter J. Chenoweth for supper. He had taught at K-State for awhile before he came back to Australia. It was great meeting with him. He was very excited to see some fellow K-Staters!

Sheep supervisor showing us Merino wool

Soon after we loaded our luggage we were off to our first destination of the day. We spent the morning at CSU (Charles Sturt University). Peter and his fellow colleagues met with us and showed us around the university. It was very interesting to see how our university varies verus theirs. Their beef unit was fairly new . Peter explained how it was designed just how Temple Grandin would like. They have over 3000 head of sheep at their sheep unit. Our next visit was to their veterinary complex. It opened in 2008 and it was a very nice complex and what they do there. It was good to meet with Dr. Peter Chenoweth and get some great advice from him.

Surgery room at CSU in Australia

We were then off to Sydney after our visit to the university in the morning. To get to sydney it took five hours from Wagga Wagga. I did not think it was too bad a drive seeing as I slept pretty much all five hours. Thats pretty typical of me though !

Opera House at night in Sydney

Once we arrived to Sydney we checked into our hotel and headed out to shop! We only had a few hours with so much Sydney to see, so we did a power shopping trip. We all got some great stuff while also seeing the interesting shops along the way. Soon after we headed back to the hotel to get ready and go on a dinner cruise through Sydney. This was on a boat to we got to see Sydney at night time and it was absoutely beautiful! Just wait to you all see the pictures ! I wish we had some more time at Sydney looking at the sites but we are headed now to CAIRNS ! Were all ready for some beach time ! Hopefully its nice !

-Kara

May 28th : Day 6 : Wagga Wagga

May 28, 2012: Day 6: Wagga Wagga

Well today is day 6 ! Where has the time gone? We have been just cruising our way through Australia and it has been awesome! This morning we woke up around 6:00 , got ready, and went and had some breakfast. Our hotel once again has bunk beds, very interesting. I guess since there are like three of us in a room they think we all need our own beds. Also while we were at the hotel Katelyn, Elizabeth (my roomies) , and I all bagged up some laundry (jeans mainly) to be washed. The weather right where we have been has been chilly.

Our first stop for the day was to the Wagga Wagga Saleyards. We toured and talked to the manager about the differences between our saleyeards and Australia's. We sat on a live sale where the manager said they run about five hundred cattle through the sale in an hour or less. They have two pens where you can currently see what is being sold and also what is up next. It seems like it saves time.

Cattle in the saleyards

The second stop for the day was at the Cargill Beef abattoir. Here we suited up in our fun white outfits, hard hats, goggles, rubber boots, and we were off to tour the plant. Oh just to mention the boots I had to wear were like size 13 and reached up more than half my legs. Imagie that scene. In the plant they are basically on an American system, which is efficient and organized. The plant is clean and they have about thirty differnt nationalities that are employed. They export a bunch of tongue,and different parts of stomach compartments. Cargill strives for honesty, loyalty and success in their company. Much like Cargill in America. This was the first abattoir in Australia that we toured that had grain fed cattle that are harvested.

Auctioner running the sale at the saleyards

After Cargill we were off to lunch and the Jindalee Feedlot. We went to Terminus Hotel in Temora. I ordered cajun chicken and it was pretty good. Very spicy but very tasteful. They also serve french fries with everything which is getting old . I probably wont be eating much more french fries ! After lunch we visited Jindalee Feedlot which is a part of Cargill feedlots and send most of their beef to the Teys Cargill abattoir , which we visited earlier today. They have a capacity of 17,000 and currently have about 15,000 currently there right now. They feed a different feed ration unlike ours. It was very interesting.

Today we learned a bunch and tomorrow we are headed to SYDNEY !!! Cant wait!

So long mates !

-Kara