THE debate over Coles' decision to ban all beef grown using hormone growth promotants (HGP) continues, and in WA, it seems producers are in two minds over the issue.
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The WA Lotfeeders Association (WALFA) criticised Coles' announcement and said not using HGP would cost their industry dearly.
But Bridgetown cattle producer Rob Introvigne was pleased to hear of Coles' decision and said the benefits that HGPs provide could be gained through careful genetic selection and breeding.
"As a Simmental breeder, this is what we have been advocating for more than 30 years," Mr Introvigne said.
"It is great news for the consumer that they will now have the opportunity to eat the cleanest and safest beef in the world.
"We believe that there is little justification for beef producers to use HGPs as they can get a similar result by using cross breeding, the natural growth promotant, which comes with the added benefit of no additional cost.
"There are very few things that you get for free in beef production, but this is one of them."
Mr Introvigne said he was so passionate about the breeding system that in the last five years, his family had made a significant investment in Black Simmental, which he believed would give producers of black cattle optimum in hybrid vigour.
"When cross breeding with Angus cattle, it will be complementing them with improved performance and efficiency," Mr Introvigne said.
"This has allowed them to meet the protocols for Certified Angus Beef (CAB) in the USA."
Mr Introvigne runs 850 Simmental and Angus cross breeders and has registered studs for both breeds, as well as a SimAngus stud.
He said he thought Coles should be paying a premium to suppliers of HGP-free beef, especially considering lotfeeders had expressed that it would cost them more to produce.
Brunswick cattle producer Michael Bull's feelings towards Coles on the HGP issue are quite different to Mr Introvigne's.
Mr Bull, who runs 700 Angus breeders, believes it actually comes down to labelling of beef.
"I think Coles are just trying to get away from the real issue here, which is labelling," Mr Bull said
"By putting the spotlight on the fact their beef is hormone-free, they avoid the real issue, which is that beef should be labelled according to what it is.
"The consumer doesn't know what they're buying, it could be beef off a 10-year-old cow or yearling beef, they've got no idea.
"There needs to be more honesty in beef labelling."
Mr Bull said there were also proven benefits from using HGP and he had previously used them in his own cattle enterprise.
Although he no longer uses HGPs, Mr Bull said not being able to use them could cost producers 7-12 per cent in growth rates.
He said although Coles did not use the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) grading system, many of the processors they used were MSA accredited and Mr Bull said without HGP, heifers would put on fat easier which would make it harder to meet MSA grade standards, resulting in a downgrading of price.
"Producers need to receive probably 15-20pc more for producing the HGP-free product, at least for grainfed beef anyway," Mr Bull said.
It's not just Coles push for hormone-free beef that has Mr Bull angry, last week he contacted chicken producer Steggles to demand they remove television commercials promoting the fact their chickens had "no added hormones".
Mr Bull said the advertisements were ridiculous and played on consumer fears and misbelief that chickens were given hormones.
"Steggles' belief is that most people think hormones are used in chicken production, even though Steggles is well aware they are not," he said.
"Hormones haven't been used in Australian chicken production for more than 40 years."
