Quality assurance

Feedlot

Sparta Feedlot plays a critical role in the vertically integrated Sparta Group. Feedlot management understands the many interrelated activities required to deliver a quality beef product to consumers.

Sparta actively promotes human resource skills with ongoing education within our unique multi-faceted production processes. Our high level of communication among the various teams insures effective completion of daily tasks. Feedlots are dependent upon people to make their operation work both efficiently and effectively.

The feedlot environment undergoes continuous maintenance throughout the year. Activities range from several times a day to daily events to insure presentation of clean water and highly palatable feed to cattle.

Pen manure is removed on a routine basis (approximately every 100days/pen). Road surface conditioning (i.e. dust suppression) and surface maintenance continues through the year. Pens are graded to allow rainfall water drainage to be channelled into a complex lagoon storage system.

Sparta complies with the strict guidelines concerning feed additives and veterinary health products established by the Department of Agriculture of South Africa. Inspections and audits are undertaken to ensure legislative compliance.

Abattoir

Humane handling procedures are practised and maintained from the arrival of livestock, where handlers trained in animal welfare practices receive the cattle, and at every stage of the slaughter process. Safety and quality procedures continue to be monitored throughout the process until delivery to our customers.

At livestock receiving, effective facilities allow for calm and humane off-loading, such as different ramp heights. Lairages for livestock is of a very high standard, clean and slip-free. Troughs are cleaned daily and filled with fresh water.

Hygiene standards are enhanced through a two colour, two knife system used by the slaughter team. Personal protective equipment is kept clean and overalls are changed twice daily.

Sparta makes use of external meat inspection/classification services (IMQAS), as well as a local veterinarian to visually inspect livestock before and during the slaughter process.

Quarterly visits from a SAMIC coordinator continually update classifiers on regulation standards as set by the Department of Agriculture.

Regular training from the RMAA helps us keep up with the latest slaughter techniques.

We are affiliated to SANHA for Halaal slaughtering.

Quality assurance programme

Sparta's meat examination, inspections and classification services are independently conducted by IMQAS.

Good Manufacturing Principles documentation is continually reviewed.

Sparta has a dedicated Health & Safety Manager to ensure implementation and maintenance of a food safety management system in terms of the relevant legislation. This is being introduced, based on the Hygiene Management System recommended by the RMAA.

Hazard analysis of critical control points (HACCP) is currently being introduced and will further assure our customers and consumers of our commitment to meat safety and quality. An application will be made for HACCP accreditation once the new deboning hall, meat processing and packing plant is completed in 2009.