Australian Abattoirs

Cressy. #19. Tas.

Australian Abattoirs, Beef processing abattoir, Cressy, Halal export accredited, Sheep processing abattoir, Tasmania 28/12/2013 Leave a comment

Cressy abattoir is better known as TQM. Located in Tasmania and processing sheep and lambs for export markets.

Other Names

Tasmanian Quality Meats

Current Operation

Currently operating at time of writing December 2013.

Location

Cressy is located on the Mainland of Tasmania approximately 50km south of Launceston

Hema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.

Owner

Tasmanian Quality Meats (TQM)¹
- Co-Owners – Brian Oliver & John Talbot⁴
- Managing director – Brian Oliver¹

Operation

Processes and send lambs to export³

Source ABC Rural ‘ Stopping Sheep disease..” 16.09.2013

Skins salted and sold³

Source – Agricultural studies school visit abattoir. – Salted skins being packed.

non-meat body parts processed into fertiliser³
Employs 70 people³

Other abattoirs in Australia

Go to this link to view Location of Australian Abattoirs

History of Cressy #19.

1997

Established business²
- Plant previously used to process small numbers of wallbies and venison⁴
Cressy processed 100-120 smallstock a day⁶
- 12 staff⁶
- battled with this processing level for 3 years as stabilised business⁶
- Selling into the domestic market

2001

Blue Ribbon Smithton abattoir (Tas) – Tasmania’s largest processor went into receivership⁶
Coles asked Cressy to process and distribute beef, sheep and pork to its Tasmanian stores⁶
Cressy leased and operated Smithton site processing 500 units a day and 52 staff.⁶
- as production increased so did costs⁶
Cressy developed new beef processing floor, beef chiller and larger smallstock chiller⁶

2003

Built meat processing floor providing a service kill for veal and lamb for butchers and wholesalers throughout Tasmania and mainland Australia

2004

Expansion of facilities at Cressy should be finished by April – allow for processor to explore new export market opportunities.¹

2010

Tasmania required a small stock export plant
Cressy start work on a new state-of-the-art processing floor

2011

January. Processing 4,000 units per week⁶
August. Cressy abattoir achieved export certification⁵
September.Processing floor developed in 2010 commissioned – achieving Tier 1 Export registration

2012

January. Processing 5,500 units per week⁶
Since export accreditation sent 86,000 lambs to Middle east and killed 75,000 for domestic market.⁵
- Once Halal slaughter introduced stopped production of pigs immediately on religious grounds⁶
May. Ceased beef kill operations – only killing 50 head a week and return was unviable⁶
Further expansion of slaughter line occured⁶
October. Cressy announce significant expansion at their meatworks²
- grant $250,000- Tasmanian Government Innovation and Investment Fund²
  - total cost is $538,000 TQM invest $288,000²
  - One of five companies to receive grant⁵
- Convert old beef floor into 500 unit lamb/mutton chiller²
- Need for greater chiller space due to market availabilty fluctuations of supply⁵
- Lift processing to 10,000 lambs a week⁵
- Focus is to build export markets for local product²
- Since establishment has undergone 4 major upgrades²
- currently employing 17 FTE, 41 casuals.²
- 12-15 new full time and part time jobs will be created with expansion²
- allow TQM to ship direct to markets on Australian mainland and key overseas export markets²
  - switch to exports incurred additional costs due to shipping.⁴
  - Shipping to Melbourne can be as costly as sending produce on from Melbourne to Southeast Asia⁴
Productivity increase – by 25% to 2000 units a day²
- decreasing fixed costs and improving efficencies²

2013

January. Processing 9,000 units per week⁶
- processing all of Tasmania’s bobby calf production⁶
- 1,000 lambs processed and shipped to Brisbane under Royal Reserve brand⁶
Source – ABC Rural ‘Stopping sheep…’ 16.09.2013
Tasmania had good competition and processing for beef but large portion of sheep and lamb was being shipped live to Victoria for processing⁶
Tier 1 Export Licenced audited by AQIS⁶
- restricted export opportunities to 22 countires⁶
- 2nd Tier requires outsourcing to Victorian abattoir to meet freezing, packing and cutting requirements of markets⁶
  - double handling and extra costs
  - When sent then has Victorian stamp when its actually Tasmanian product⁶
  - Plans to build blast freezer with extra boning and cutting room renovations to aim for Tier 2 application.⁶
Pre stuns sheep prior to slaughter⁴
Cressy is Halal accredited – Customers Dubai, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait and Vietnam⁴
- also sending to Qatar⁵
Currently processing 2,000 animals a day⁴
Local market is shrinking due to undercutting by giant supermarkets⁴
- Cressy weren’t competitive, their domestic market small and export opportunities limited⁴
- Changed focus direction, invested and innovated around the problems of high Australian dollar – now supplying halal meats in a growing number of international markets.⁴
- Cressy is tapping into growing markets and air-freighting product⁴
- preferable to exporting of live animals according to owners of abattoir⁴
  - Lamb killed at TQM Monday can be at Customer Middle East Wednesday.⁴
  - Tasmania is only state prohibiting use of HGP’s⁴
Employing 80 people⁴
Cressy recently named regional exporter of the year.⁴
September. Have an open door policy to suppliers to observe, learn and improve⁷
- Quality assurance manager – Chris Cocker – selected as a finalist for biosecurity Farmer of the year.⁷
- Animal health workshops to assist farmers to identify, educate, knowledge and combat diseases.⁷
- More than 120 producers have taken opportunity to see their own stock processed⁷
  - liver fluke, cheesy gland, sheep measles and Ovine Johnes disease⁷
  - Sarcocysts comes from cats and is a problem due to feral cats⁷
  - Producers wear cost of disease due to downgrades in carcase⁷
  - Cressy supply a feedback sheet to producers – giving percentagaes of diseases or what processor has found.⁷
  - Carcase costs $8-$10 per animal to process if it is condemned to meat meal, producer receives nothing.⁷
November. Tasmania Quality Meats – Announced as winner of Regional Exporter of the year category at 51st Australian Export Awards.⁸
- “The company’s change in direction to becoming a direct exporter is a major milestone, and is to be congratulated” Award Judges.⁸
- No direct export sales in 2011 financial year to $12M in export sales 2013⁸
- Last few years from 20 staff have now employed 75.⁸
- Produce certified Hala and HGP free chilled and frozen whole -carcase veal as well as 6-way boxed veal.⁸
- Products including frozen veal, mutton, lamb and offal processed in accordance with Halal requirements and sol as Halel in markets such as Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.⁸

Source:‘National Exporter award to Tasmania Quality Meats’ Beef Central 27.11.2013
Tasmania Quality meats Logo.

2017

This year has been very difficult due to¹⁰;
- high stock prices¹⁰
- Shortage of workers¹⁰
  - Had gained some workers from other abattoirs that have closed Flinders Is and Longford #195. Tas.¹⁰
Currently processing 1,700 livestock a day¹⁰
- Using 65-70 workers¹⁰.
Flinders Island facility moved some of its service kill process to Cressy¹⁰
Current Manager – Ralph Jak¹⁰
Cressy is currently operating service kill and own branded products¹⁰
- Diversification allows better adaptability to current market conditions¹⁰
  - Trade lamb products¹⁰
  - Mutton in 3 or 6 way cuts to the Middle East¹⁰

Sources

‘Cressy abattoir upgrade’ The Examiner 08.03.2004
‘Further investment in Tasmanian Livestock Industry’ 11.10.2012
Agricultural studies visit Tasmanian Quality Meats
Reuters Market Analyst – Clyde Russell 18.12.2013
‘Middle east demand spurs Tasmanian lamb abattoir upgrade’ ABC rural. 15.10.2012
‘What’s in store: Big steps in small stock’ Stock and Land. 22.04.2013
‘Stopping the spread of sheep diseases a winner’ ABC rural. 16.09.2013
‘National Exporter award to Tasmania Quality Meats’ Beef Central 27.11.2013
‘Tas Quality meats back on track after a tough year’ ABC rural. 18/12/2017. Audio

Cowra

Australian Abattoirs, Cowra, New South Wales 27/12/2013 Leave a comment

Cowra abattoir is located about 250km west of Sydney, it is currently operating but not export registered. It was export registered in 1997 as a pig processing facility only.

Other Names

Current Operation

Is currently operating at time of writing 27.12.2013.

Location

Cowra is located approximately 250km west of Sydney

Source – Hema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.

Owner

David Mulligan – Up to late 2006³
- sole director
Chris Cummins ( 2007)

Operation

History

1928

Discussion in town to establish abattoir

1966

Public meeting was held to discuss abattoir establishment. 250 people attended.
- Decision to form company
- 50% capital raised locally rest from Sydney company

1970

Abattoir commenced operation

2006

April. Workchoices legislation came into effect March 27th – Abattoir wanted to shed 29 workers, on the promise of taking back 20 under the federal award¹
- 16 beef and 13 pig slaughtermen told to finish up May 5¹
  - Managers Letter to workers¹
    “We deeply regret this situation: however, given the current economic conditions we must take this action to ensure the ongoing viability of the abattoir” Ray Petterson Cowra abattoir manager.¹
  - Abattoir wanted to amalgamate it’s pig and cow processing teams – reason gave for sackings.⁸
- One slaughterman quoted his wages prior were $880 per week Federal award would be $580.¹
- had been prior enterprise agreements in place – it was being removed 12 months ahead of schedule.¹
- 22 workers offered jobs – would be paid less than before dispute but more than initially offered by abattoir, remaining workers offered redundancies.⁸
July. Federal Government workplace watchdog found – “Employers can sack workers and rehire them on lower pay and conditions in order to secure their company’s financial viability” Nicholas Wilson – Office of Workplace services director²

Abattoir backed down and took back the workers on the same original pay³
August Business was shut down and administrator appointed³
- 200 workers told there was no money to pay their entitlements³
  - workers owed $2.8M – annual leave, long service leave⁴
- Collapse of sale negotiations worth $8M³
September – Investigation into transfer of $2M moved between companies uncovered by administrator⁴
- David Mulligan transferred $1.7M to another of his companies PD Mulligan Holdings⁴
- last transaction nearly $1M transferred only weeks before closure⁴
- Company had entered into uncommerical transaction aware that PD Mulligan my not have been able to repay⁴
- Company may have also traded while insolvent⁴
- Creditor – National Australia bank – owed $1M⁴
  - Liquidator – Frasers Insolvency said PD Mulligan a guarantor of the NAB loan, had discharged the abattoirs debt to NAB and now held the mortgage over the abattoir⁷
  - Instead of NAB being 1st mortgagee, now PD Mulligan was,⁷
  - Bank was charging 18% interest, PD Mulligan was charging 8%⁷
  - The bank charge was enforcable but before employee entitlements⁷
    - AMIEU advising members to vote against proposal of Frasers to take over administration of PD Mulliagan as there would be a conflict of interest – firm acting as liquidator of abattoir and administrator of priority creditor⁷
December – Liquidators announced they entered into agreement for facility to be sold $2M and reopen early 2007³
Local businessmen behind purchase – Stock buyer Chris Cummins and local businessman George Kollas.
Possibly able to offer 120 jobs if re-open in February 2007⁵
Plan to slaughter sheep, lambs, cattle and pigs at the plant and supply meat locally and to Sydney, Canberra, Southern Highlands, South Coast and Newcastle markets⁵
Other buyers had been considered but primarily interested in selling off abattoirs assets⁵

2012

June. upgraded facilities to improve animal welfare⁶
Installed surveillance cameras – $15,000⁶
Installed a head restraint to assist when stunning cattle with bolt stunner. cost $150,000⁶
Pigs are gassed using carbon monoxide⁶
Operator of the facility at this time – Chris Cummins⁶
Chris Cummins wants animal welfare rules in Australia to go further to make it harder for the meat works with low standards (to operate)⁶
Cowra abattoir supplies 300 restaurants and butchers making it the largest domestic meat wholesaler in the state.⁶
July – Carbon tax starts – will make kill fees 5-6% greater⁹
- Independent pricing and regulatory Tribunal (IPART) says electricity prices could rise by 18%, hald of rise attributable to the carbon tax.⁹
Source NSW Business Chamber Comments by Chris Cummins

2015

February. National Sheep health monitoring project is begun
- Provide information on diseases and conditions detected on the slaughter floor of abattoirs
- Provide sheep producers with feedback
  - Provide information on conditions such as grass seeds, pleurisy, arthritis and sheep measles
  - Conditions requiring trimming at the abattoir include sarcocystis, rib fractures, cheesy gland and vaccine lesions

Sources Cowra. #3173

‘A lot of beef about for abattoir workers’ SMH 04.04.2006
‘Watchdog clears Cowra abattoir over sackings’ The Age 08.07.2006
‘Cowra abattoir set to re-open’ http://www.news.com.
‘Cowra abattoir owner faces investigation’ ABC Online 11.09.2006
‘Locals to save Cowra abattoir’ The Land 28.12.2006
‘inside the kill room at the Cowra meat works’ http://www.abc.net.au. 11.06.2012.
‘Abattoir boss in dash for cash’ The Telegraph 04.10.2006
‘Jobs on lower pay for Cowra workers’ The Advertiser 15.06.2006
‘Chris Cummins on Cowra abattoir on the carbon tax debarcle’ Meat trade News daily. 07.07.2012
‘Politics in Place- Social power relations in an Australian country town’ Ian Gray. Pg 38
http://www.theland.com.au/story/3381290/thinking-outside-the-slaughter-box/?cs=4963#!. 10.11.2014. See Cootamundra
http://www.farmonline.com.au/story/3380028/abattoir-surveillance-lifts-sheep-health-profits/. 24.02.2015
http://www.farmonline.com.au/story/3376282/bush-towns-welcome-syrian-refugees/. 24.09.2015
http://www.theland.com.au/story/4924111/passing-of-meat-industry-identity/. 15.11.2016
http://www.theland.com.au/story/4924111/passing-of-meat-industry-identity/. 15.09.2017

Guyra

Australian Abattoirs, Guyra, New South Wales 24/12/2013 Leave a comment

Other Names

Current Operation

Location

Guyra is located 35km North of Armidale in NSW. Armidale is approximately 460 km North of Sydney

Hema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.

Owner

DR Johnston Group Pty Limitied¹
- Other articles say DA Johnston Pty Limited⁴
Australian Meat Holdings⁴

Operation

History

1960

NSW government closed all government owned small slaughterhouse facilities that didn’t meet hygiene and inspections standards.³

1965

NSW Government built Guyra abattoir as a central facility for the areas meat processing needs³
- Operated as New England Abattoir Council⁴
- Finance was entirely from loan funds $1.83M³
- abattoir didn’t trade in meat on its own behalf but service kill – cattle, sheep, pigs³

1971

Estimated cost of processing one head of cattle is equivalent to 8.3 sheep or lambs or 6.9 pigs.³

1977 – 1981

Meat and Live-stock Corporation estimate that between 1977-1981³
- Cattle capacity utlisation declined from 84% to 60% nationally³
- Declined cattle capacity utilisation in NSW alone 92% to 58%³
- Sheep capacity declined from 83% to 66% nationally³
- Declined sheep capacity utilisation in NSW alone 86% to 77%³
- Between 1977 – mid 1981 22 abattoirs ceased operations.³

1981

Following several months unprofitable operations the abattoir was ‘mothballed’³

mothballed is term used to keep maintenance and requirements on repairs on facility up to date but not actually processing any animals.

Ceased trading in February due to drought⁴
150 people lost jobs caused Guyra unemployment to go from 0% to 13.3% by July⁴

1983

Guyra unemployment by March 27.4% – highest unemployment figure for a NSW country town⁴

1985

State government waived about $6M of the debt accumulated (Total debt was nearly $7M at the time of sale) – on condition that licence to slaughter was surrendered.³
Abattoir was sold to new owners for $0.8M³
Purchased by AMH, abattoir was export registered at the time (Pg 126)
Private ownership – abattoir reopened – again as a service facility³
March – Abattoir re-opened DA Johnston Pty Limited⁴

1988

Previous 3 years – plant had substantial investment of capital (Pg 126)
AMH approached their banker – Hong Kong Banking Corporation for a partner (Pg 126)
AMH entered into 50/50 partnership with DR Johnston to operate the abattoir (Pg 126)
- DR Johnston were a trading house that ran grain, stockfeed, protein meals & fishmeal, aswel as 5 different meat trading businesses

1991

Note – Article cites that Guyra came to AMH in 1991 from ConAgra (Pg 130)

1993

abattoir closed for its annual Christmas close-down¹

1994

workers meant to resume work in January but unavailability of stock led to period extension 1 week.¹
February. 25th – further shortage of stock and a close-down for six weeks until re-opening 14th April 1994¹
- Employees remained on the books but didn’t receive pay.¹
- Some workers seeked employment elsewhere while abattoir closed¹
June. 9th 220 people stood down¹
- accepted that period of this closure – 17 weeks between June 94 and October 94 was a seasonal closure in respect of the meat industry arising out of a shortage of stock¹
October. 10th. plant reopened but on a reduced scale slaughtering beef¹
- Half of dismissed employees offered re-employment¹
  - 27 didn’t accept¹
AMH frustrated by what it saw as unproductive and inefficent industrial practices, began a process to change the working arrangements in its plants (Pg 128)
- Restricted production to minium tally and temporily closed some plants – Guyra was the 1st (Pg 128)
- AMH said to have budgeted $30M to ‘break’ the unions, by 1996 the estimated cost was $70M (Pg 126)

1995

Guyra abattoir taken to Industrial relations commission of NSW by AMIEU¹
- dispute over severence pay and entitlements to people who didn’t take up employment when plant reopened. October 1994¹
House prices in Guyra dropped $15,000 day of abattoir closure, some brick homes were being sold for under $30,000⁹

1996

Guyra as considered a marginal operation, it was closed.(Pg 126)
- Killed only 21,427 for the year. Never worked again after this (Pg 130)
Australian Meat holdings now owned Guyra⁴
- AMH controlled by big US rural commodities trader – ConAgra, a major exporter from North America¹⁰
- AMH accounts for 16.5% of Australia’s beef kill.¹⁰
- currently owns another 8 facilities but will be consolidating to 5 and closing Beaudesert (QLD), Guyra and Portland (Vic)⁴
  - others owned Dinmore, Townsville, Rockhampton and Aberdeen¹⁰
  - Intended that 300 jobs would be replaced at Dinmore when expansion completed there¹⁰
- AMH intend to invest in larger more efficent plant – Aberdeen abattoir (NSW)
  - Aberdeen closed in 1999 – reasons cited as stock shortages⁵
    - AMH closed Aberdeen to send all cattle to Dinmore abattoir (QLD) – Even with added cost of cartage costs of processing were still $14 per head/cattle cheaper processed in QLD than NSW⁶
Guyra – Early in 1996 enterprise agreement was reached – first of its kind in Australia⁴
- strenuously opposed by AMIEU and employees from other abattoirs⁴
- Guyra employees entered agreement to protect jobs and allow abattoir to be viable⁴
AMH had fought intense battles with meat industry unions to introduce workplace agreements warning that AMH “..had long warned the Australian meat processing industry needed to significantly increase it’s international competitiveness” Kieth Lawson AMH CEO.¹⁰
Up to half the states (NSW) 56 abattoirs could close with the loss of up to 5,000 jobs in country NSW due to industry rationalisation.²
- outdated and inefficent abattoirs could follow Guyra²
- Industry observers say beef export abattoirs – Wingham, Mudgee, Gunnedah and possibly Inverell are most at risk²
- Administrators had been appointed at Blayney abattoir (NSW)²
  - Blayney closed 1998 – stock shortages cited but observers say economic factors⁷
- Newer and efficent plants expected to survive – Young, Gundagai, Calcairn, Cootamundra and Harden²
- Others that had recent capital investment should survive – Goulburn, Dubbo²
  - these had provided benchmark for state beef processing of efficency gains necessary²
  - Niche market suppliers would likely survive – Casino abattoir (QLD). Lismore²
- Industries fundamental problem – lack of plant investment due to price wars²
- USA had taken Australian market share Japan, Korea and Taiwan²
  - Cattle prices had slumped in the last six months (First half of 1996)
- Live export was sending 500,000 cattle to Indonesia and Philippines²
- Gunnedah abattoir was receiving stamp duty concessions that no other plants were getting.²

2001

Guyra abattoir site being developed for rabbit farming enterprise⁸

Sources

DR Johnston Group Pty Ltd (Guyra abattoir) and W Archer & 219 Ors (1995) NSWIRComm 172 (31st August 1995)
‘5000 jobs at risk: abattoirs facing closure SMH 21.05.1996. www.abattoirs.com.au
‘Short run costs and throughput variability of a NSW abattoir’ Piggott, Small 1987
‘Guyra abattoir closure’ Mr Raymond Chappell 15.05.96 http://www.parliment.nsw.gov
http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20020314031
‘State rules shut abattoir’ The Land 06.07.00
‘600 sacked workers given just a weeks pay’ Sydney morning herald. 10.03.1998. http://www.abattoirs.com.au
‘Guyra man killed in forklift accident on abattoir site’ Northern daily. 07.06.2011.
‘Guyra’s comeback faces further hurdles’ Landline 12.10.2003
‘US Beef exporters force three abattoirs to close’ SMH 15.05.1996

Cranbourne

Australian Abattoirs, Cranbourne, Victoria 23/12/2013 Leave a comment

Cranbourne abattoir (Wagstaff) is located SW of Melbourn, extensively damaged by fire in 2013, multi species plant employing 250 people.

Other Names

Ralph’s Family abattoir²
Wagstaff abattoir²

Current Operation

fire extensively damaged the facility March 2013 – Not sure of current operation.

Location

Cranbourne is a south western suburb of Melbourne, approximately 35km from the CBD.

Hema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.

Owner

Ralph founding family members.²

Operation

Two tier export licensed plant²
Has capacity to process 300 cattle and 2500-3000 sheep a day²
Employed 250 people²
provided service kill and boning program for local producers and suppliers.²
Multi species processing abattoir²

History

1908

Established to service the growing population of Melbourne.²

2006

Chronic labour shortage in meat industry and meat processors are accussed of using 457 temporary visa programs to bring in skilled labour but underpaying and using the people for other work positions.¹
- Visas granted to industries nationwide (not only meat processors) jumped 40% from previous year.¹
- Freeze was placed on 457 Visa applications to meatworks by Government over concerns of breachs of conditions. – Delays are said to be hampering meatwork operations¹
  - lack of employees have some processors throwing product away rather than be processed due to lack of labour and is causing missed opportunities in export markets¹
- 457 Visa means worker must stay with employer for 4 years, Meant to meet criteria of skilled slaughtermen and only used for that position, not as unskilled labourers, boners.¹
- Recruitment companies find the workers and match to employer, usually the employer finds accommodation and deducts rent and travel from workers salaries – AMIEU claim exorbitant rents are being charged¹
- Union complaining that 457 Visas workers. “Workers who are being brough into Australia are in many cased being exploited.are being abused , and not being paid correctly and being misued at work” Graham Bird AMIEU¹
- Cranbourne employ 20 Chinese workers – they are bussed to the abattoir from homes rented by the company, all 457 visas. – Cranbourne say its operations all above board¹
- Murray Bridge abattoir (SA) subject of Government investigation of if 457 Visa holders are doing other jobs.¹
- Western Australia had 36 Investigations, 80% of employers found to be in breach of conditions and WA department of employment protection recovered $200,000 in underpayment of wages (Authors note – article didn’t specify if across all industries or only meat processing)¹

2008

Operations changed and Ralph’s Meat company spilt – one extension taking over Cranbourne facility (Operates as Wagstaff) and the original company operating a another abattoir at Seymour (Operates Ralph Meat Co)²

2013

March. Fire caused extensive damage to approximately 60% of the building²
- Thought to have begun as an electrical fire in the roof.²
- Insulation used in refrigertion make abattoir fires notoriously hard to control²
- Sheep and cattle were penned in close proximity to the building on fire, they were able to be moved but 2 sheep died from stress.²

Sources

‘Meat Industry accused of exploiting foreign workers’ ABC 7.30 report 31.07.2006
‘Fire guts Victoria’s Cranbourne meatworks’ Beef Central 25.03.13

Pakenham

Australian Abattoirs, Pakenham, Victoria 23/12/2013 Leave a comment

Pakenham abattoir is located in Southern Victoria and is the one of the largest export abattoirs in Southern Australia. Processing high quality grass and grainfed beef.

Other Names

G & K O’Connor’s

Current Operation

Operational – As at time of writing. 23.12.13.

Location

Pakenhan is a south eastern suburb of Melbourne

Hema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.

Owner

G & K O’Connors¹
- partially Japanese shareholding¹

Operation

One of the largest export abattoirs in Southern Australia¹
Employs 300 people¹
Processes high quality grass and grainfed beef¹
exports approximately 70% of production¹
supplies to markets Halal, EU, China and Japan¹
Sells product under number of brand names including O’Connor¹
Sources majority of supply from Gippsland region, east and north of Melbourne.¹

History

1977

Established¹

2013

Amendment C176 to the Cardinia Planning Scheme allow future expansion of the abattoirs site and security due to other infrastructure planned by govenernment including roads and access.

Sources

‘O’Conner gets land use approval for future development’ Beef Central 23.12.13.
‘$315 million boost for Pakenham abattoir’ Edward Donohue. Member for eastern Victoria. 25.02.13.

Kilcoy

Australian Abattoirs, Kilcoy, Queensland, Southern QLD 06/12/2013 Leave a comment

Other Names

Current Operation

Currently operating as at December 2013.

Location

120 km NW of Brisbane in Brisbane valley

Hema Maps – Australia Handy Map. 9th Edition

Owners

Kilcoy Pastoral company¹
- CEO – Tony Munns appointed 1999, succeeded by David Foote.¹
Harmony Investment fund – Singapore based – Harmony Capital management³
- Harmony purchased in 2007⁴
Pacific Alliance Group (2012)³
New Hope Investment Fund – Chinese⁴

Operation

Marketing strategy – Naturally Identified, Safe environment (NISE) Beef export program¹
Dedicated grainfed, export focussed plant.³
Capacity to process 285,000 head per year³
Employed 750 staff (as at 2012)³

History

Year

1950’s

First established by Kennedy Family⁴

1999

Appointed new CEO – Tony Munns¹

2002

Major improvements epected to provide 10% production boost and 50 full time jobs.²
Currently employing 340 people (plus the extra 50 to add)²

2003

Volume had increased through the plant by 35% to same period in previous year.²
Further Funding provided by Federal Government – Dairy Regional Assistance Program $880,000²
- Further enhance production capacity and improve efficiency²
- Improve primary freezer capacity, improve ability to process by products and improve the standard and quality of effluent disposal²
Previous 12 months had been difficult in world markets²
Target Pacific Rim countries in particular Japan and Korea²

2007

Harmony Capital Management’s Harmony Investment Fund⁴
Throughput for 2007 was 54,000t carcase weight, 160,000 cattle.⁵
Note by author (Jo Bloomfield) if average yield is 337.5kg, estimate live weight processing 52% dressed Is approximately processing animals live weight 650kg.

2009

Australian Agriculture Co’s largest shareholder – IFFCo flag interest in purchasing abattoir⁵
- Would be acquired by IFFCo under assigned put-and-call option – allows later transfer of ownership to AA Co⁵
- IFFCo is large international red meat processor – killing 10,000 buffalo daily in India⁵
- AA Co considering cost-benefit studies of owning meatworks as adjunct to branded beef business⁵
  - Currently utilises service kill at Grantham and occasionally at Casino⁵
Kilcoy provides strong marketplace competition against larger players Swift and Teys grainfed cattle processing⁵
Kilcoy is has current kill capacity 570 head a day, single shift, seven day operation⁵

2011

Processed 250,000 head, emplyed 750 staff.³

2012

Harmony Investment Fund – had owned a majority share of 80% sold to Pacific Alliance Group³

2013

Chinese investment fund – New Hope Investment fund purchase facility⁴
- Purchase price about $80M⁶
- one of the biggest operators of feedlots in China⁴
Kilcoy Abattoir is currently fourth largest abattoir in Australia⁴
Is currently processing 265,000 grain fed cattle a year⁴

2015

July. The following charts are from a submission by the Australian government Department of Agriculture to the Senate rural and regional affairs and transport references committee inquiry into Market consolidation and the red meat processing sector.
- Dept Ag. Submission to Market consolidation and the red meat processing sector July 2015
Capacity of major beef abattoirs in QLD. Pg 15

Share of throughput by state for beef in 2014. Pg 16

Cattle Movements to abattoirs. Pg 25

Hourly labour costs for food manufacturing industry Pg 30

Sources

‘New Heads for Kilcoy, ACC abattoirs’ QLD Countrylife 13.10.1999
‘Kilcoy abattoir upgrade’ QLD Countrylife 29.05.2003
‘Harmony sells stake in Kilcoy, Harvey Beef’ Beef Central 06.12.2012
‘Kilcoy abattoir sold to Chinese Investment Fund’ The Australian 06.12.2013
‘IFFCo eyes Kilcoy abattoir in AAco deal’ Stockjournal 18.06.2009
‘Stations now in hot demand’ Nth QLD Register 10.07.2014
Dept Ag. Submission to Market consolidation and the red meat processing sector July 2015

Bordertown

Australian Abattoirs, South Australia 19/11/2013 Leave a comment

Other Names

Current Operation

Aus Meat Accreditation registration dated 29/12/2015 #1614 – JBS Australia Pty Ltd (Bordertown).⁸
- registered as a Sheep export facility.⁸
Direct employment enquiries to www.jbssa.com.au

Location

Bordertown is located 270km south east of Adelaide in South Australia

Hema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.

Owner

Tatiara Meat Company²
JBS Australia (2009)¹
- one of Australia’s largest meat processors²
- Australian Director – John Berry²
Abattoirs owned by JBS in Tasmania
- Devonport abattoir (Tas) (2008) – another multi species abattoir.
- Longford (Tas)
- King Island abattoir (Tas) (2008) – closed in 2012.
Abattoirs owned by JBS Queensland.
- Townsville (QLD)
- Rockhampton (QLD)
- Dinmore abattoir (QLD)
- Riverview (QLD)
- Toowoomba (QLD) – more commonly known as Beef City
Abattoirs owned by JBS in Victoria
- Brooklyn (Vic)
- Cobram (Vic)
Abattoirs owned by JBS in New South Wales
- Yanco (NSW)
Abattoirs owned by JBS in South Australia
- Bordertown (SA)

Operation

Establishment # 1614
Lamb, Hoggets and mutton¹
Employs 400¹
Daily capacity 5,200 head¹

History

2009

JBS buy plant operations²
Invested $6.5M on robotic technology on the kill floor²

2012

JBS Australia split into two operating entities to make Northern and Southern regions in relation to abattoirs and feedlots within those areas⁵.
- South – Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania⁵
- North – NSW and QLD.⁵

2013

Sept. Launches own brand – Great Southern²
Oct. Will introduce a second shift of operation²
- increasing throughput from 4000 to 8000 sheep and lambs a day²
  - current livestock purchases are $140M per year³
  - Utilites including power and water currently $3.1M per year³
- employing 150- 180 more permanent staff²
  - Wages budget is $25.2M³
  - Extra shift will increase wages by 40%³
  - Extra shift and business decisions will provide continuity of employment through the year³
- needed due to improved access to China and increasing demand for high value chilled and frozen lamb in European Union and USA²
- Looking for financial supportfor on-site cold storage – project costing $12M³
Local town looking to improve its houseing and infrastructure to support new workers²
- Priority to Migrant support servicesand re-opening of Migrant resource centre²
“High cost of meat processing in Australia was a constant challenge – at about 2.5 times the cost of the US” – and while technology and training added to efficencies, the state and Federal governments need to provide direct financial support to investments such as JBS are making” John Berry ( JBS director)²
“..with a high percentage of our product destined for hihgly competitive international markets and competing against animal proteins from around the world” John Berry (JBS)²
Installation of automated prcessing technology³
- $6.5M – x-ray primal saw machine in boning room³
  - determines dimensions of major bones before moving along the chain past rotating blades, cuts the carcase into forequarter, middle, loin and leg sections³
  - Process up to 10 lambs a minute³
  - cutting tolerance of 5mm³
  - is just one of two machines in Australia³
Middle machine will be first of its kind in Australia when installed.³
November. JBS Swift Australia install closed-circuit television camera’s (CCTV) in it’s Australian meatworks.¹⁰
- For the purpose of animal welfare and meatworker safety issues.¹⁰
- CCTV for internal use by only JBS, with no plans to allow outsiders to view the footage.¹⁰
JBS’s US beef division (which includes Australia) delivered drop in net sales and earnings in it’s third quarter financial results.¹⁰
- Australia’s division performance and overall contribution to the overall result is impossible to distinguish due to inclusion with US and Canadian beef processing results.¹⁰
- Earnings before tax $134M,.¹⁰
  - Down by 22.5% on previous quarter.¹⁰
  - Down by 28.4% on third quarter last year.¹⁰
- result reflection of domestic North American markets.¹⁰
  - Improved performance had occured in Australian.¹⁰
    - Demand had increased in Chinese markets.¹⁰

2014

July. Expected to replace two dimensional x-ray imagery with Dual Energy Xray Absorption (DEXA)⁴
- Will find the skeleton but at the same time produces a lean meat yeild estimate⁴
July. JBS Australia across all facilities in operation kills daily⁵
- 8,500 cattle,⁵
- 24,000 smalls – which includes lambs⁵
- Employs more than 8,000 people⁵
July. JBS Australia purchase majority shareholding in NSW based Andrew Meat.¹¹
- specialise in high quality, portion cutting and further processing of meats for domestic and international restaurant and foodservice customers.¹¹
- produce ready-cooked meals.¹¹
- company banner Creative Food Solutions.¹¹
- Andrew Meat will allow JBS expansion into high growth retail and value-adding segments.¹¹
Expansion of the Andrew Meats business will start in November .¹²
- JBS global strategy to expand into value added meat protein – opportunity to expand margins.¹²
- JBS have an existing value-added division – Food Partners.¹²
  - supplies food service customers like Pizza Hut and Domino’s with toppings.¹²
- Andrew Meats focus will be produce ready meals.¹²
  - ‘grab & go’ beef roasts, designed to compete head on with hot cabinet roast chickens sold in supermarkets.³⁸
  - Domestic markets were very immature but also with significant growth potential.¹²
At this time JBS operate.¹¹
- 10 processing facilities.¹¹
  - Daily processing capacity of more than 8,000 cattle and 21,000 small stock.¹¹
- 5 feedlots.¹¹
December. JBS currently operate 12 meat processing plants across 5 Australian states⁶
- Wages & local procurement $730M (Excluding livestock purchases)⁶
- Employs 8,500 people at the facilities⁶
  - Employs 12,000 people in Australia⁶
- Total revenue of $6.5B⁶
JBS processing plants in Australia

Source JBS submission #50 Market Consolidation.
- JBS estimates its current share of four eastern states beef kill – 20% (excludes service kill)⁶
  - JBS share of Australian beef production 16%⁶
  - Market share of national small (lamb, mutton & goat) 16%
- JBS spent $2.4M on halal certification costs of approved religious certifiers in 2014⁶
2015
- June. Cost of processing in Australia 1.5-3 times the cost of processing animals in another country⁶
- cost of processing grain-fed cattle in Australia is twice of the USA⁶
  - lower levels of productivity in Australia in regards to kg per unit of labour⁶
  - 2 major differences between Australia and the USA⁶
    1. Government regulation
      - $10 a head more in Australia⁶
      - Dept. of Australian Agriculture fully recover costs of meat export inspection and certification⁶
        
        Australia wide DAFF costs $80M⁶
        
        JBS contribute $14.5M⁶
      - Export plants don’t use DAFF but use approved employees, which plants fully cover costs⁶
        
        JBS estimate an additional $30M at Export level⁶
      - USA & Brazil governments provide services at no or minimal costs to processors⁶
    2. Energy Costs
      - $15 a head more in Australia⁶
  - Technical barriers to trade (TBT’s)- Total value in Australia estimated at $1.25B as identified costs⁶
    - 261 TBT’s in 40 key markets⁶
      - 136 have significant trade distortion impacts⁶
July. The following charts are from a submission by the Australian government Department of Agriculture to the Senate rural and regional affairs and transport references committee inquiry into Market consolidation and the red meat processing sector.
- Dept Ag. Submission to Market consolidation and the red meat processing sector July 2015

Share of throughput by state for beef in 2014. Pg 16

Major Processing companies by market share May 2015. Pg 16

Cattle Movements to abattoirs. Pg 25

Hourly labour costs for food manufacturing industry Pg 30
December. ATO publishes tax data for agribusiness corporates.⁷
- Data interpretation – Companies do not pay company tax on revenue (total income) they pay on profits after paying all expenses, including wages, capital replacement, supplier costs and other operating expenses.⁷
- Income tax information is for 2013/14.⁷

- JBS Holdco Australia Pty Ltd produced Total Income $4,040,948,610.⁷
  - Taxable Income $419,882,525.⁷
    - Tax Payable $44,809,334.⁷

Sources Bordertown – SA. JBS

‘Our plants – Bordertown’ http://www.jbsswift.com.au Accessed 13.11.2013
‘Second shift at JBS meatworks’ Stock Journal 03.10.2013
‘Robot Revolution’ Stock Journal 17.10.2013
‘Technologies take quantum leap’ The Land 24.07.2014
‘The next Swift Shift’ Weekly Times 30.07.2014
sub50_JBS Inquiry into the effect of market consolidation on the red meat processing sector
‘ATO publishes tax data for agribusiness corporates’ Beef Central 18.12.2015
AUS-MEAT Accreditation Listing 29.12.2015
‘Swift CCTV camera action’ Weekly Times 13.11.2013
‘JBS delivers lower third quarter beef sales, revenue’ Beef Central 14.11.2013
‘JBS takes stake in Andrews Meat’ www.farmonline.com.au 09.07.2014
‘What’s behind JBS taking a big stake in Andrews Meat Value adding Businnes? Beef Central 10.07.2014

Warragul

Australian Abattoirs, Beef processing abattoir, Sheep processing abattoir, Victoria, Warragul 16/11/2013 Leave a comment

Other Names

Radford’s¹
R Radford and Sons abattoir³

Current Operation

Currently operating at 16.11.2013

Location

Warragul is approximately 120km south east of Melbourne.

Hema Maps – Australia Handy map – 9th edition

Owner

Radford’s¹
- Family-owned meat processing business³
- Managing director – Robert Radford¹

Operation

At 2011 processing 120,000 sheep and lambs and 80,000 cattle per year²
Operate 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year³
- 1,400 cattle and 2,500 lambs a week³
- Currently processing sheep and cattle but looking to process goats in the future⁵
  - Goat processing added after closure of Trafalgar (Giles) abattoir⁷
- Currently domestic processing 18-21kg carcases boutique markets⁵
- Process lamb for different domestic cultural and religious festivals⁵
  - lambs need to be very lean 116-18kg⁵
  - Italian community like 18-20kg⁵
  - Vietnamese and Chinese want very lean 20-22kg, no fat⁵
  - Warragul own a retail shop in Kyneton, this has added to tourist trade⁵
- Export markets
  - Middle east require a very lean carcase under 18kg⁵
    - cook meat slowly and too much fat congeals at top of pots⁵
  - Lamb and mutton exported both whole and 6-way cuts, fresh and frozen air freight⁵
- 15% production is certified organic⁵
  - 40-50% growth in organic meat processing in lst 3-5 years⁵
Animals sourced all over Victoria, In SA Mt Gambier and Naracoorte, In NSW as far as Gunnedah, at times also Tasmania.³

Source Hema maps – Australia Handy map 9th edition

Figure 1 – showing area from which Warragul abattoir source animals across South east Australia

Animal Welfare practices³
- animals are stunned with electric stunner, cattle knocked unconcious prior to slaughter³
- Stunning is audited and people are specifically trained for the stunning role³
- Primesafe -Victorian meat authority conduct regular audits at least 3-4 times a year³
- Audits are unannounced inspections³
  - “Focus on animal welfare is critical to the success of an abattoirs relationship to its suppliers and customers” Robert Radford, Manager⁵
  - There are sound business reasons to conduct rules of treatment and slaughter of animals.³
    - business can be closed instantly for breaches³
    - Plant invested heavily to allow animals to rest prior to slaughter³
    - Stock yards are covered in sawdust to soften footing. – then is reused as fertlizer³
    - stressed animals create poor quality meat cutting so better welfare is a better animal carcase produced³
      - stockyards are undercover and allow 750 cattle to be held.³
      - Animals allowed up to 48 hours rest before slaughter⁵
- Prediction of meat quality use³
  - PH level as indication³
  - hanging method of carcase is tender stretching and not hung from achilles³
- Resources used³
  - water was a major problem in the drought – using 100,000 litres per day,³
    - not connected to mains water and had no access to ground water³
    - developed a recycling of own effluent waste³
    - developed with help of governmentm cost $1.1M³
- Products
  - skins – are all sold as tenders to various markets and graded to their quality³
    - skins often to China – car seat covers, shoe lining, clothing⁵
  - Offal and other byproducts are value added, producing tallow and meat meal⁵
- Business
  - need to constantly look at Research and development to consider productivity, running costs and new technology to increase through-put³
  - Looking to enter Halal export markets⁵
  - Domestic Halal is common, enables offal byproducts to be sold for human consumption⁵
  - Only some victoria abattoirs allowed to do Kosher processing⁵
- Slaughter process
  - Last 20 years focus is meat processing and wholesalers⁵
  - After each kill – meat buyers mark up (rate) bodies at 5am each morning, looking at quality and matching to orders⁴
    - Average 120 bodies – 60 will get top money, 30 OK, 15 barely cover costs and 15 probably lose money due to bruising or cutting dark⁴
    - “You’ll get your money on 50% of the beef bodies, the next 20-30% you’ll make a bit on, and the rest you’ll go backwards by about $40 to $50 a body” Danny Hood – Meat Wholesaler⁴
    - Being a perishable item, aim is to have the kill sold and placed within 7 days⁴
    - Price spread across beef bodies of 100c/kg carcass weight⁴
    - Domestic to wholesaler mark up is approximately 50-70c/kg⁴
    - 200kg carcase from abattoir has markup about $140 by wholesaler to cover transport, processing fees and delivery charges.⁴
- Employees
  - Warragul employees average 10 years of continuous service⁶
  - In 60 years of trading not lost a single day to industrial disputes⁶
  - All employees require Certificate 2 status in food processing⁶

History

1944

Father began business as one-man slaughterhouse
- on-man slaughterhouses were in most towns, Warragul had 6.

1946

Radfords – Warragul established⁶

2007

Involved in delegation of 200 Victorian food manufacturers to develop worlds first global halal brand, invited by the Brunei government.¹
Note from Managing director R Radford and Son – 28/02/2014 – Radfords were a participant in the delegation to Brunei, any publications stating or implying that R Radford and Son process meat for halal markets are incorrect. R Radford and Son do not and have never processed meat for halal markets and have not sought accreditation.¹

2011

Won awards²
1. NAB agribusiness leader of the year²
  - In past decade Warragul have doubled processing to 80,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and lambs a year.²
2. Environment and Energy management²
2012

Up to 2012 had invested $8.3M in new plant. equipment and supporting infrastructure

Sources

‘Victorians work on first global halal brand’ The Age 24.09.2007
‘Abattoir leads way’ Pakenham Gazette star community 07.12.2011
‘A cut above’ ABC Landline 21.10.13.
‘Story behind beef retail prices’ Weekly Times 10.10.2013
‘Abattoirs cater to emerging markets’ Stock Journal 26.09.2013
http://www.radfordmeats.com
Inquiry into the impact of food safety regulation on farms and other business 18.10.12.
Personnal Communication. R Radford. 28.02.2014

Brooklyn

Australian Abattoirs, Brooklyn, Victoria 13/11/2013 Leave a comment

Other Names

Current Operation

Operational as at 13.11.2013
Establishment #0688²
Export accredited abattoir processing Beef, Sheep, Goat and Offal.²

Location

Brooklyn is located 14km from Melbourne’s CBD¹

Hema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.

Owner

JBS Australia¹
Abattoirs owned by JBS in Tasmania
- Devonport abattoir (Tas) (2008) – another multi species abattoir.
- Longford (Tas)
- King Island abattoir (Tas) (2008) – closed in 2012.
Abattoirs owned by JBS Queensland.
- Townsville (QLD)
- Rockhampton (QLD)
- Dinmore abattoir (QLD)
- Riverview (QLD)
- Toowoomba (QLD) – more commonly known as Beef City
Abattoirs owned by JBS in Victoria
- Brooklyn (Vic)
- Cobram (Vic)
Abattoirs owned by JBS in New South Wales
- Yanco (NSW)
Abattoirs owned by JBS in South Australia
- Bordertown (SA)

Operation

Establishment #688¹
Beef – grass and grain fed¹
lamb, hogget, mutton & veal¹
Employees – 688¹
Processes 5,200 daily¹
Largest multis species processing facility in southern hemisphere¹

History

2001

June. Fire had gutted the plant³

2002

March. SBA foods sell to Tasman Group Services, new trading name Belandra Pty Ltd.³
- Brooklyn export abattoir operated in conjunction with Westgate coolstores
- $25M deal included purchase with Longord abattoir (Tas) and King Island abattoir (Tas) mothballed Altona meatworks in Melbourne west and 8,000 head Yambinya feedlot at Wakool near Deniliquin NSW.³
Brooklyn facility still in reasonable condition, efforts to re-open had failed but SBA has spent $10M on the beef slaughter chain, chiller and boning facilities in the past 4 years.³

2005

June. Trade halted on export of meat to Malaysia over doubts concerning halal status of Australian meat⁶

2006

January. Market access to Malaysia suspended⁷
- Malaysians concerned that pneumatic stunning and use of the thoracic stick (Used to speed up bleeding of carcase) were being used to speed killing process.⁷
April. Brooklyn receives Halal approval from Malaysian Islamic Development department.⁶
- AQIS allow milder level of eclectrical stunning and thoracic stick at least 2 minutes after slaughter⁷
- Grantham abattoir (QLD) and Wodonga abattoir (Vic) also gained approval⁷
- Kilcoy abattoir (QLD), Longford abattoir (Tas) failed the accreditation tests.⁷

2008

JBS buy Tasman group Longford abattoir (Tas) , King Island abattoir (Tas) and Devonport abattoir (Tas) and three plants in Victoria, 1,800 workers at the six plants.⁴

2010

December. JBS Swift locked out cold storage workers under the Labor workplace relations regulations.⁴
- Workers had rejected a proposed new enterprise agreement⁴
- JBS offered wage adjustment 2% a year over 2 years⁴
- Shifts increase from 8 hrs to between 9.5-12.6hrs affecting workers overtime and weekend penalty rates⁴
- Union claim its a real wage cut given rate of inflation
- Mostly immigrant workers striking granted a one-of payment of $250 and not normal wage on strike time, payable when picket disbanded.⁴
- Union shut down picket on December 22 to revive on January 4⁴
Work had continued at the plant with workers flown in from QLD and others sourced from a labour hire agency⁴

2012

JBS Australia split into two operating entities to make Northern and Southern regions in relation to abattoirs and feedlots within those areas⁸.
- South – Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania⁸
- North – NSW and QLD.⁸

2013

February. Received carbon abatement grant $212,512 towards equipment replacement worth $425,000⁵
- replace boiler network with a higher efficency boiler and heat exchanger.⁵
- Expect to reduce carbon emissions by 35%, saving $60,000 in energy costs per year⁵

2014

July. JBS Australia across all facilities in operation kills daily⁸
- 8,500 cattle,⁸
- 24,000 smalls – which includes lambs⁸
- Employs more than 8,000 people⁸

Sources

‘Our Plants – Brooklyn’ http://www.jbsswift.com.au Accessed 13.11.2013
Aus meat List 28.02.2014
‘SBA foods sells to Tasman groups services’ Stock and Land. 19.03.2002
‘Australia: Union shuts down picket of locked out meatworkers’ http://www.wsws.org 28.12.10
‘Teys, T & R in latest round of carbon abatement grants’ Beef Central 18.02.13
Headlines for week ending 21.04.06 http://www.profarmer.com.au.
‘Abattoirs supply Malaysia again’ Farm Weekly, 19.04.2006
‘The next Swift shift’ The Weekly Times. 30.07.2014

Deniliquin. #2123. NSW

Australian Abattoirs, Beef processing abattoir, Deniliquin, Goat processor, New South Wales, Sheep processing abattoir 12/11/2013 Leave a comment

Deniliquin was an export abattoir accredited to process beef, sheep, goat and offal.

Deniliquin temporarily closed in 2007 due to drought with plans to re-open. It was re-opened in 2014 after it changed hands and was refurbished with the assistance of government funding. It closed again in 2017.

Last registered Aus meat export October 2017. Site was visited in March 2020, it was derelict and undergoing demolition.

Current Operation

Currently undergoing upgrades to reopen.⁶
Aus-Meat Registration as at 02/10/2017 #2123

Location

Deniliquin is located South west of NSW about 75km from the NSW/Victoria border and city of Echuca in Victoria.
285km north of Melbourne, 723km south west of Sydney³

Hema Maps – Australia Handy Map. 9th edition

Owner

Klastin (2007) – Managing director – Tony Karuse¹
Famicorp – Owned by Farouk Fami, inherited from the Estate of Nordon Becker³
Global Crown⁹
Tasman Group – Managing director Joe Catalfamo

Source – Steers Auctioneers – Meat Processing Plant Deniliqiun, 28.08.2007

Operation

Halal and HACCP accredited⁵
Small stock abattoir – sheep, small calves,lamb and goats.³
Uses an inverted chain system³
Processing capacity 3500 sheep/lambs per day⁵
8 hanging carcase chillers – 5 carton blast freezers⁵
Export registered – Japan, Egypt, Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Russia, South Africa, Mexico⁵
modern Ammonia refrigeration plant⁵

Source – Steers Auctioneers – Meat processing plant – Deniliquin 28.08.2007

Source – Steers Auctioneers. Meat Processing plant. 28.08.2007

Source – Steers Auctioneers – Meat processing plant. Deniliquin 28.08.2007

History

Source History of Frozen Meat. Undated.
Historical picture of the Deniliquin freezing works – known then as the Riverina Freezing works

Authors note. The original freezing works I guess would have been situated near a main water source, in Deniliquin that would have been the Edward river a tributary of the Murray River. I don’t think the original Freezing works owned by the Riverina Freezing Company would have been where the current meat works is.

1990

Halal certified³

2002

Closed – reasons cited due to drought and limited numbers of livestock²
- Employed 120 people on kill days, mainly casuals.²

2003

Meat processors hard pressed meeting their requirements because of major shortage of lambs bought on by the drought⁹
Prices as high as $158 a head, five years ago was $80 a head at Deniliquin⁹
Meat processors forced to pay high prices for good quality lambs to keep thier abattoirs operating and to retain market share⁹

2006

Begun to employ overseas workers to fill vacant meatworker positions¹
- 6 workers through a Vietnamese employment agency¹
- Advertising in Australia failed to fill postions¹
- If had not got Vietnamese workers the plant would not be operating¹
Abattoir is closed at some period during this year¹⁸

2007

Klanstin with drew from the facility – closure⁵
- Was only meant to be a temporary closure
- Operated with Halal accreditation from 1990 to closure in 2007 due to drought
Issues with market and meat industy had forced temporary closure⁴
Closure due to issues of sourcing quality stock¹³

2011

- Deniliquin has faced a gradual but sustained and significant reduction in population over the past 15 years.²
  - Centralisation of policies of both state and commonwealth governments²
    - RTA divisonal headquarters closed⁹
    - Department of education – regional headquarters⁹
    - Murray Health headquarters⁹
  - prolong drought that have prevailed in much of last decade.²
- If MDBP implemented²
  - result in 58% reduction in the amount of water available to irrigated agricultural activities.²
  - Deniliquin is heavily reliant on irrigated agriculture for its ongoing survival.²
  - If MDBP implemented would jeopardise abattoir and rice mill re-opening due to reduction of water available.²
- Current circumstances in Deniliquin²
  - Deniliquin abattoir currently closed²
  - Negotiations currently underway for the abattoir to be sold and re-opened given improved rainfall and forecast availability.²Deniliquin council write a submission to the inquiry into the impact of the Murray Darling basin plan (MDBP) guide in Regional Australia.²
Region has suffered a decade long drought²⁶
Abattoirs in operation in NSW with more than 50 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff – 47⁷
- Includes meat processors, poultry and pigs.
Meat processing facilities closed in NSW since 2000 with more than 50 FTE – 9⁷
- Includes meat processors, poultry and pigs
November. facilities advertised for sale, land, equipment, structures and fittings³
Attorney for the Estate under instructions to liquidate all assets³

2012

December. Abattoir sold to Global Crown⁹.
Chief executive of Global Crown – John Wynan
- Facility could reopen 2013⁹
  - Would focus solely on sheep, production runs 1,000 sheep a day⁹
  - Goal to increase production to 3,500 sheep a day⁹
  - Halal certified with full accreditations for export⁹
- create up to 100 jobs⁹

2013

January. Global Crown Pty Ltd – John Wynan negotiation for sale, settlement delayed due to ‘legal issues’⁴
Proposes to open abattoir this year⁴
November. Abattoir has been purchased and is expected to reopen
Tasman Group purchase⁹
- estimate to employ 80 people⁹
- Upgrades to some facilities is required.⁹
- would continue as Halal slaughterhouse – for which it was fully accredited⁹
- would focus solely on sheep, production starting at 1000 head a day to process building up to 3500 head.⁹
Australian Meat Group Pty Ltd (Formerly known as Tasman Group)¹³
- Tasman group previously operated abattoirs at³¹
  - Brooklyn #688 Vic
  - Cobram #397 Vic
  - Yarrawonga #71V Vic

2014

March. Joe Catalfamo is confirmed as purchaser of Deniliquin¹¹.
- Has also purchased Dandenong #3085. Vic¹¹.
  - Dandenong is focused on cattle processing¹¹.
- Plans to create state of the art processing sites at each facility¹¹
Seasonal conditions at the time have decimated livestock numbers in QLD and NSW¹¹
August. Deniliquin abattoir is still not in operation^10.
Plan for the facility to be refurbished¹⁰
- Facility has now been out of operation for 7 years¹⁰
NSW government will provide support to the Australian Meat Group to re-open the plant¹⁰
Facility is anticipated to employ up to 130 full time jobs in the first year¹⁰
- After 5 years expected to increase to 460 full time equivalent positions¹⁰
NSW government pledge to provide $1M to upgrades for the facility¹³
- Upgrades will allow facility to meet best practice standards¹³
- Improve efficiency and provide full range of meat cuts¹³
Total cost of upgrades wasn’t able to be confirmed¹³
Australian Meat Group Pty Ltd (Formerly known as Tasman Group) have purchased the facility¹³
- Managing director Gilbert Cabreal¹³
Detailed Environment Impact Statement is yet to be completed¹³
Preparatory work has begun at the facility¹³
Pending development application for facility improvements¹³
- upgrades to the kill floor, receiving yard and amenities¹³
Plans for a new boning room, rendering plant and cold storage facility¹³
November. Property investment in the Deniliquin area has increased in recent weeks due to the abattoir plans to re-open¹⁵
Facility will be opening Mid December or early January 2015¹⁵.
50 staff have already been appointed¹⁵
Kill trials are expected to start in November¹⁶
Deniliquin plant manager – David Bridge from Gundagai¹⁶
Deniliquin Operations manager – Bernie Cabral¹⁶
Opening is expected to be early February 2015¹⁶.
Audit has been completed but some refurbishment still needs to be continued¹⁶
Submission has been sent for new plant, with construction hoped to begin February¹⁶
- Current facility would be suitable for another 2-3 years²⁰
- Plans to a new state of the art facility in the process of approval²⁰
Deniliquin is in a strong growth phase with the opening of the Rice Mills also occurring¹⁶

2015

November. Deniliquin abattoir is the 10th abattoir that Joe Catalfamo has remodelled²⁹
- Deniliquin proposal is construct a new plant on vacant land next to the existing facility²⁹
Deniliquin plant is now officially US licensed³⁰.
- This will allow the company to further develop and expand its product range when the new facility is built next door³⁰.
Currently processing 2,200 – 2,500 small stock units per day³⁰
Australian Meat Group Livestock Manager – Ben Davies³⁰
Location of Deniliquin abattoir is very good because it is centre of Australia’s most heavily populated sheep production area³⁰.
- Southern most export plant that has road train access³⁰
Growing global markets that can be harnessed for mutton, lamb, goats and bobby calves³⁰
December. Deniliquin abattoir is recommissioned and is again in operation¹⁷
$5M were spent on refurbishments¹⁷
During the commissioning phase the facility will process 1,000 sheep a day¹⁷
- Working up to 3,000 a day at full capacity¹⁷
70 people are now employed¹⁷
Second stage of production will employ a further 250 people¹⁷
- Accommodation and houses are yet to be available to accommodate some workers¹⁷.
Abattoir production will be both domestic and export¹⁷
Exported meat will go to;¹⁷
- Japan, Middle East, Vietnam¹⁷
- Plans to secure a US export licence soon¹⁷

Source ‘Renovated Riverina abattoir re-opens driving property boom’ ABC Rural 14.01.2015

2017

February. Meat processors are finding conditions very difficult with livestock prices increasing for both beef and lamb⁹⁹
- Prices to consumers expected for meat to increase by at least $1 per kg¹⁹
Lambs at some saleyards are selling for 750c per kg⁹⁹
Also a shortage of lamb supplies¹⁹
Numbers for kills is expected to be less by 1M head across Australia¹⁹
March 17. Deniliquin abattoir operations are temporarily halted²⁰
- due to unsustainable lamb market²⁰
- Complete shutdown is hoped to only last 2-3 weeks²⁰
- Return to operation depending on market conditions²⁰
  - Australian dollar was currently very high²¹
Currently 180 workers were employed at the site²⁰
Have been operating the facility for 2-3 days a week due to stock prices²⁰
Focus on markets is currently into South America²⁰
- Current stock values were at $6 /kg carcase weight²⁰
  - To be competitive the abattoir needs the value to be $5/kg or less²⁰
Company had decided not to pursue further infrastructure developments at the site²⁰.
April. Other abattoir closures are occurring around Australia due to stock availability and prices²⁴
- Cobram #397 Vic.
- Longford #195 Tas
- Cootamundra.1 #87 NSW
- Esperance #1459 WA
Some facilities that have significantly reduced operations²⁴
- Goulburn #217 NSW
- Tamworth.1 #394 NSW
- Gunbower Vic.
Over-capacity in the lamb processing industry relative to supply pool is exasperated by the expansion of formerly only domestic plants now being export accredited and having export market access²⁴
- Export markets are unwilling or unable to pay more for Australian meat²⁴.
Reports equipment from the Deniliquin facility is being removed²⁵
Operations and Managing directors aren’t responding to calls⁹⁵.
Employees under 457 visa’s have been sent home²⁵
Lamb prices have actually risen higher to $6.60 /kg²⁵
- Indications are that the lamb prices will stay relatively strong²⁵
Prices hit 700c /kg proving to be a breaking point for some abattoir operations
- Total setback of 6 closures (not including Esperance) in eastern Australia will result in 50,000 less lambs processed in Victoria and NSW²⁷
September. “With a high currency, low numbers, and high cost of production and processing in Australia, we are a little bit like the Murray Goulburn of the beef industry” – Australia’s red meat processing sector is in crisis. MLA CEO Richard Norton²⁶

2020

March. Author visited this site, property and buildings were derelict and obviously not used for some time.
- scrap metal workers actively removing equipment and items
- All stock yards and infrastructure around the facility was removed.