Updated. 27th June 2013
Other Names
- Warro Games Meat1
Current Operation
- Is operating as at June 2013.1
- Operates as a Kangaroo processing site.1
Location
Owner
- L. Micklebourgh & B Micklebourgh.1
Operation
- Processes 1500 kangaroos a week for human domestic consumption and pet food markets2
- Employs 22 full time2
- supplies fillets on weekly basis to wholesaler who distributes to Adelaide, Melbourne & Sydney2
- Produce manufactig meat – 12 t per week – mainly goes to pet stores.2
- Each carcase for human consumption is worth $37 to processor2
- Kangaroo processors pay levy to Dept of Agriculture – Fisheries and Forestry3
- 7c per carcase for human consumption3
- 3c/kg for pet meat3
- Levy money is distributed to national residue survey and R & D3
- Human consumption carcases processed collected $210,000 (2010 – 2013)3 = 3M carcases
- Pet food processed collected $30,000(2010-2013)3 = 1M kg processed
- R & D – one project in current study – $240,000 “welfare and humaneness of commercially harvested kangaroos”, conslude August 20133
- Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia (KIAA)3
History
Prior
- Had been other kangaroo works in QLD but many have closed down2
1980’s
- Had started in skins trade and had begun a pet food supply business.2
2004 – 2008
- height of pet food business was processing 40t of meat a week.2
- Operation to which the pet food was going centralised and changed demand of meat to cause orders to dwindle2
- requirements came in that even pet food processing plants had to be accredited to process meat to human consumption standards2
- Surat works was purchased, renovated.2
2009
- QLD Floods caused business to be completely surrounded by water and shutdown for 3 months2
- Russian markets closed down that roo meat was exported too.2
- Domestic market became flooded with roo meat product.2
2010
- Floods cut off access around site for 3 months2
2011
- Floods cut off access around site for 3 months2
2013
- Predicted increase in electricity prices could ultimately shut down the business1
- Electricity has more than doubled in past 3 years.1
- currently $22,000 per quarter1
- Doesn’t include chiller 6 boxes that cost $1,000 each a quarter to operate1
- Floods and debt load has had devasting effect on operation of business.2
- Second largest employer in town behind Council.2
Sources
- ‘Power price rise crippling’ QLD Country life 06.06.13
- ‘Surat processor hops ahead’ QLD Country life 06.06.13
- ‘Market working on big issues’ QLD Countrylife 06.06.13