HIGH quality pork that impressed as raw and cooked product has been named the best in Australia.
Australian Pork Limited’s Steak Your Claim competition attracted entries from across the country, but it was Shark Lake Piggery, Esperance, Western Australia, that took top honours.
The raw and cooked pork loin steaks were independently judged against a number of criteria. These included the colour, visual appeal and marbling of the raw product, as well as the aroma, flavour, tenderness, juiciness and texture of the cooked.
Stephen Hoffrichter from the family-run Shark Lake Piggery entered the steaks from his Landrace pigs which had been fed lupins and barley. Judges commended the product as having excellent marbling, being bright and beautiful when raw and having a great flavour profile, excellent juiciness and being an al-dente style pork.
”We have worked hard on quality improvement, invested more than $2 million dollars in the last few years and worked closely with our stock providers,” Mr Hoffrichter said.
“It’s really great to have our efforts rewarded in this way.”
Judges awarded second place to Byron Bay Pork, NSW, for a Berkshire cross, which had been fed a mixed grain diet, while third place went to The Butcher’s Block, WA, for a Large White Berkshire cross, fed wheat, lupins and meat meal.
Australian Pork Limited general manager of marketing, Peter Haydon, said all APL members were invited to enter the competition and have their pork assessed by the highly qualified chef judging panel.
“We know our farmers produce a high quality product, but we were looking for something a bit special, a product that they believed would outperform their peers,” Mr Haydon said.
“A panel of three judges had the tough job of assessing the steak entries, looking for the best overall pork and noting any distinctive characteristics.”
The competition attracted significant prize money for the first three places, but also marketing opportunities for their products.
RESULTS: 1. Shark Lake Piggery, Esperance, WA: Landrace, fed lupins and barley. Byron Bay Pork, Bangalow, NSW: Berkshire-cross, fed mixed grain. 3. The Butcher’s Block, Corrigin, WA: Large White/Berkshire-cross, fed wheat, lupins and meatmeal.
