Western Meat Packers Group has paid a probable world record $30,000 for a round bale of hay when WMPG Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Fuda, made the winning bid at a charity auction at Harvey.
Myalup farmers Graham and Mia Rose were caught in the middle of hay cutting, managing to roll the last round bale before retreating from bushfire which had begun to engulf their farm.
Harvey born and raised, Mr Fuda personally knew many of the affected farmers, so he, along with WMPG, which sources plenty of cattle from the fire affected region, wanted to help.
Proceeds from that bale, along with other money raised on the night, have gone to local Lions and Rotary clubs, which are now distributing the funds to fire affected farmers on a needs basis.
The unique bale, smoke infused from ancient WA jarrah, red gum and peppermint trees, has now been fed out to select steers at Paul O’Meehan’s Borden beef feedlot in WA’s Great Southern, where he grain finishes steers for 120 days, under contract to WMPG, supplying 84 per week at about 360kg carcase weight.
The cattle are fed a diet of tempered barley, lupins, silage, hay and supplements.
Beef from the O’Meehan steers fed the ‘smokey bale’ is destined for Japan, whose consumers are the world’s most passionate when it comes to enjoying high quality, grain-fed Australian beef, taking about half what Australia produces.
Mr O’Meehan applauded WMPG for what he described as the “great job” they do in processing the cattle for the Japanese markets.
