2019 the Grove Dominates Inaugural HGP Free Ekka Paddock to Palate

With the RNA adding the HGP Free class to the prestigious Paddock to Palate at this year’s Ekka, The Grove decided to enter three pens into this class as well as one pen in the 70 Day class. The HGP free marketplace is one in which we are striving to position ourselves. The biggest hurdles for the HGP free market is that some cattle perform only to plateau in performance after 60-80 days on feed, or they finish with too light a carcase weight on grass or grain. Therefore the cost of gain runs away making it a tough sell. Continuing to feed them to get the days on feed up can see the animals that have plateaued lay too much fat, really dropping dressing percentage and EMLY%.

For The Grove, the most satisfying aspect from the Ekka comp was that we were the only entry that placed or won in all three judging facets of the competition, Gain on Feed , Ausmeat Carcase Points and the MSA Meat eating section. The Beef Industry has always worked on the premise that quality and quantity of beef traits are NEGATIVELY CORRELATED. It is a premise as an industry we must turn around, if we are to stay relevant in the protein production chain.