Bega.#. NSW

Jo Bloomfield

13 years ago

Bega was a domestic, service kill abattoir of small animals such as rabbits and poultry.

Unknown if currently in operation

Other Names

Current Operation

Location

Hema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.

Owner

Other abattoirs in Australia

Go to this link to view Location of Australian Abattoirs

Operation of Bega. NSW

Small species abattoir to process rabbits and poultry¹
Service kill abattoir for local producers of small species¹
Encouraged backyard breeders of small species to have animals processed at Bega and improve self suffiency²
Provided service to homesteaders and small scale farmers across the Bega valley

History

2004

2012

Sept. “Despite rising costs for meat processors, small private orders can be profitable for abattoirs” Philip Wolf – Bega Valley Gourmet meats²

2013

Mar. May be forced to close
Only 2 members left and supplies of chicken and rabbits have waned³
Processing less than 100 animals, at peak was processing 800, abattoir has a very uncertain future.³
“Cost of keeping this place going has risen dramatically since we started nearly ten years ago” Chris Frank, Meat safety officer.³
“The commercial operation of growing poultry or rabbits has not kept pace with the costs of our operation here”.Chris Frank, Meat safety officer.³
Jun. co-operative is on brink of insolvency and looking to close doors at end of financial year⁴
Last small species abattoir in operation in NSW⁴
Meeting to be held in Narooma consider abattoir future⁴
“If people don’t have this option they are forced to buy chickens from Coles or Woolworths, we need the abattoir to keep local fresh produce viable” John Champagne, South East Producers Association⁴
Not enough commercial breeders of small animals in the Valley to support the co-operative,⁴
Insurance and electricity prices were a heavy burden⁴
Abattoir licensed to process bones of larger animals, cattle & sheep, but can not afford the infrastructure to expand its operations⁴
Meeting – 10 people signalled an in interest in using the abattoir which means its future is secure for now⁵
Lack of members and decline in the supply of chickens and rabbits has meant the facility has been struggling to meet its running costs.⁵

Sources