Category Archives: Sheep processing abattoir

Roma

Other Names

  • Ladbrooks1

Current Operation

Location   

  • Roma is located in Central Queensland approximately 470km west of Brisbane.

 

Hema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.

Owner

  • George & Alanah Ladbrook1

Operation   

History

2002

  • Abattoir purchased by Ladbrooks.1

2014

  • Was killing 40 head of cattle and 200 lambs a week.1
  • Sold abattoir due to difficulty in operating two businesses of the abattoir and a butcher shop1

 

Sources

  1. ‘George on the job 20 years’ QLD Country Life 03.07.2014

Mudgee

Other Names

  • Cudgeong abattoir

Current Operation

Location   

  • Mudgee is located 120 kilometres north of Lithgow in NSW on the western side of the Great Dividing range.

 

Hema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.

Owner

  • Cudgegong Shire Council ( ? – 1988)1
  • Flectcher International exports – 19881

Operation   

  • Last council-owned meatworks to survive the rationalisation of the meat processing industry1

History

1965

  • Built as a service works for local butchers2

1981

  • Roger Flectcher – started his meat processing career when he leased the boning room at Mudgee and operated until 19882 when he built Dubbo abattoir (NSW)

1996

  • Up to half of NSW abattoirs could close with the loss of up to 5,000 jobs1
  • Authors Note – Majority of live export cattle during this period would have been Bos Indicus or crosses to South East Asia markets, sourced from mainly northern Australia. Not animals suited to heavy slaughter in Australia and from herds whos’ production was not likely destined for abattoirs in NSW.

LE exports 1990_1998_edited-2Source – Live Cattle Exports. Australian Commodities Vol 5 #2 June 1998

 Chart showing the high volume of South East Asia live cattle export destinations period 1990 – 1998

2003

  • August. Mothballed1
  • Had employed 230 people1
  • Accumulated debts of $13M, had appointed an administrator.2
  • 2002/2003 processed2
    • 32,000 cattle2
    • 600,000 sheep, lambs and goats2
    • 1,300 deer2
  • Liquidator – Steve Parberry of PPB chartered accountants2
  • Tender Sale conducted by David Nolan Rural and Project marketing2
  • Previous 5 years of operation it had worked almost entirely for 5 major export customers including2
    • Mudgee co-op for sheep2
    • Melbourne beef processor – GH Keily2
  • December. Purchased by Fletcher International Exports.1
  • Would be atleast a year or later before the plant will be sufficently renovated to enable operation1
    • $3M rebuilding program at the plant1
      • New freezers would need to be installed to allow for more freezer capacity1
      • the current coal-fired boilers need to be replaced with natural gas to cut operating costs1
      • Beef line was good, boning room had heavy investment1
      • Utilise as a single species abattoir – beef1
        • enable plant better chance to survive as cattle numbers not as severely depleted due to drought1

 

Sources

  1. ‘Abattoirs revived’ Stock and Land 24.12.2003
  2. ‘Meatworks jobs saved’ The Land 25.12.2003
  3. 5,000 jobs at risk:Abattoirs facing closure’ Sydney Morning Herald. 21.05.1996

Cootamundra.1 #87. NSW

Cootamundra is located in south eastern NSW. It was operated by one owner for over 30 years to be recently sold to another Australian group, Manilda in 2014. The same year it obtained tier 2 export status. The facility was mothballed in February 2017 due to lack of sheep supply but remains registered under Aus-meat. (Accessed 02/10/2017)

Other Names

  • GM Scott lamb and beef processing plant2
  • Manildra Meat Company, from 2014.

Current Operation

  • Is currently mothballed as at 25/02/2017
  • Ausmeat accreditation Number 0087.6
    • Accredited as a domestic abattoir current in 1987 as #35N7
    •  
  • MSA accredited plant Establishment Number 0035 current as at 27.08.20138
  • Accredited as a Export abattoir current in 2013 as #876

Location   

  • Cootamundra is located approximately 95 km north east of Wagga Wagga
  • Facility is located on the Temora road19

Cootamundra 1

Cootamundra 2

Hema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.

Other Australian Abattoirs.

This link will lead to a interactive page that lists past and present abattoirs, meatworks and processors in Australian.

Owner

  • GM Scott1
    • Owner Barry Noble.3
  • Manilda Group (2014)4

Operation   

  • Cootamundra is a multi species abattoir that has capacity to process22
    • 4,000 small stock and22
    • 600 head of cattle per day22
    • Has a goat processing line22
    • Export access to 160 countries including Asia, The Middle East, Northern America and Pacific Islands22
    • Employs 300 people23
  • GM Scott – Is a privately owned business with an annual turnover of $25M3
  • Gas-Flushed cryovac system for products produced3
    • Product is sold into export and domestic markets3
  • Brand name used is – Noble farm brand.3

abattoir-11-06-2015

Source. ‘Manildra remains committed to town’ Cootamundra Herald 11.06.2015

Manildra Meat Company, Cootamundra abattoir

Contacts

For employment enquiries contact Manildra Meat website and go to contacts.

contact-details-for-employment

History

1952

  • Cootamundra facility established3

1963

  • Cootamundra facility is currently operated by Conkey & Sons Ltd34
    • Export facility that has chilling, freezing and freezing storage capacity34
    • Authors Note. This facility could actually be in relation to Harden NSW

1980’s

  • Noble family purchase facility3
  • Manager / Owner is Barry Noble12
    • Originally the facility was established by Mr Noble’s wife’s (Colleen) parents12.
    • GM Scott name is derived from Mrs Colleen Noble’s mother’s name. Grace Margaret Scott12.
      • Mr Barry Noble had worked at an abattoir in Homebush12..
        • Homebush was Government owned and closed down12..
        • Upon closure Mr and Mrs Noble looked at sites for their own establishment12.
  • Area of Cootamundra was centrally located with an abundance of top quality livestock in the area to source supply12.

1987

  • Facility is currently registered as a domestic processing facility under Aus-meat #35N35
    • Registered name under GM Scott as a domestic facility35
  • Authors Note. It is possible that Cootamundra had 2 abattoirs operating in the region at this time. (Note made 04.01.2018)
    • Another domestic facility is operated as Cootamundra Abattoir see Harden NSW

1996

1997

  • July. Cootamundra abattoir is currently Domestically registered under Aus-Meat as #35N36
    • Operator – GM Scott P/L.36
      • Processing Beef and Sheep36

2000

  • March. Cootamundra abattoir #35N is currently registered as a domestic processing facility37
    • Operator – GM Scott P/L37
      • Processing Beef and Sheep37

 

2008

  • June 7. Major product recall occurs for lamb products supplied by Cootamundra to Woolworths supermarket chains9
    • Lamb products brought between May 27 and June 5 in NSW, Vic, Tas, SA and NT have been recalled9.
      • QLD products brought between June 7 – 14, only lamb and cheese rissoles, lamb mini roast and economy burgers are recalled10
      • No products are affected in WA10
      • Safeway has issued a recall of some of lamb products in some of its Victorian stores10
    • strange odour emanating from some of the products9
    • no specific health risks but issuing the recall as a precaution10
  • Manager at Cootamundra abattoir, Arthur Cullen resigns11
  • GM Scott Current Director – Peter Noble11
  • July. Cootamundra abattoir #35N is currently registered as a domestic processing facility38
    • Operator – GM Scott P/L38
      • Processing Beef and Sheep38

2009

  • July. Cootamundra abattoir #35N is currently registered as a domestic processing facility39
    • Operator – GM Scott P/L39
      • Processing Beef and Sheep39

2010.

  • Meat processed at Cootamundra was sold in all Woolworths stores throughout NSW22
    • boneless leg of lamb or a French rack of lamb22
  • March. Cootamundra abattoir doesn’t appear on Aus-Meat registration listing40

2012

  • June. Facility received a significant industry accolade award for development work with a robotic carcase cutter.2
  • Current capacity to process 200 cattle and 3,800 lambs daily2
  • Principally supplying supermarket group Woolworths.2
  • Robotic arm development – Robotic Ovine Cutter (ROC)2
    • First of its kind in the world2
    • Originated from a prototype installed at Midfield Meats in Victoria around 20062
    • Can cut up to 4 cuts per carcase2
    • Processing 360 carcases an hour (Average 10 seconds per carcase)2
    • If doing 2 cuts per carcase can process 450 carcases per hour (Average 8 seconds per carcase)2
    • Cutting system is designed to2
      • handle wide range of carcase size2
      • utilises vision-profiling2
      • dustless blade-cutting technology which prolongs shelf life2
      • High cutting efficiencies that increase accuracy and yields2
    • ROC is expected to have significant impact on the meat processing industry over the next 5 years2
    • Eliminates 4 bandsaw cuts that would otherwise be made manually by an operator2
    • Increases OH & S significantly2
    • With further refinement anticipate speeds up to 600 carcases per hour (Average 6 seconds per carcase) could be achieved2
  • August. Cootamundra abattoir is the first abattoir in Australia to receive Federal Government funding for carbon mitigation project.3
  • Facility will undertake $200,000 project to help industrial refrigeration units to run more efficently3
    • Include upgrading or recycled rainwater project3
    • will combat rising energy costs and improve productivity3
  • Current processing capacity 3500 lambs and 200 cattle daily3
  • Currently employs 200 people3
  • December. Patriarch Barry Noble passed away4
    • Owner of the Cootamundra facility Mr Barry Noble dies of a respiratory illness12.
      • Died at 85 years old. Established the abattoir in the 1980’s12.
    • Installation of improved technology had always been very important to Mr Noble to enable the facility to keep ahead of competition12.

2013

  • Facility placed on the market as family members pursued other professional interests4
  • Facility had recently had $17M invested on a new processing floor with a view to upgrading from tier one to tier two export status4
    • Allowed opportunity to export markets like Japan, Korea and the US4
  • January. Cootamundra abattoir is registered with Aus-Meat as an export processing facility #8741
    • Operator – GM Scott P/L41
      • Processing Beef, sheep, goats and offal41

2014

  • April. Plant cuts production from five days to four due to lack of lamb supply19
  • June. Manildra Group Purchase facility4
    • Manildra is Australian owned4
      • Manildra is 100% Australian owned13.
        • Family owned and run business13
          • Honan Family17
          • Interests in ethanol, flour, sugar and value added products such as starch13
          • Stockfeed business with crop processing ventures in 5 regional centres17
        • Company is 62 years old13
          • Employs over 1,000 people13
            • Most are located in regional Australia, head office is located in Sydney13
        • Manildra also recently purchased a beef boning room and retail ready meat packaging facility in Bomaderry (150km South of Sydney on the East Coast)13
        • Also operated starch and gluten plants in the US for 35 years17
        • Purchased Argyle Prestige Meats in the South West Slopes17
          • Manildra purchased a 50% stake17
          • Argyle meats moved from leasing boning and packing facilities at Harden abattoir to a high tech operation at the former Dairy farmers factory in Nowra17
  • 2 Chinese entities and 2 Australian entities considered or placed bids for facility4
  • Manildra plan to lift processing capacity beef kill immediately to 150-200 a day4
    • processing mainly company owned cattle.4
    • The existing beef line has been under-utilised in the past13
      • Modestly working 100 head per day initially13
  • Facility has current service kill contract with Woolworths to process and bone 1,400 lambs a day4
  • Lambs are sourced from Wagga to Griffith, Forbes, Goulburn up to Cooma4
  • The local area is very high MSA (Meat Standard Australia) capabilities
    • Major selling point for Manildra with easy access to stock13
  • Manildra had been a client of GM Scott in the past13
  • July 1. Official takeover of Manildra group of the Cootamundra abattoir 13
  • Management team
    • Launches the Manildra Meat Company 17
    • GM Scott business manager – Bill Scott13
    • Manildra Group director of business development Peter Millard13
    • GM Scott CEO Len Jones13
  • Full export licence granted – expanded potential overseas markets from 18 to 1485
    • ‘tier two’ export13
    • Has taken 14 months in application of process to obtain the licence13
      • Market export increase capability from 22 to 18413
    • GM Scott already had connections with USA & Hong Kong13
      • working toward ties with China13
  • Cootamundra abattoir is the largest employer in the area13
  • Target markets will be5
    • Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Taiwan and Papua New Guinea5
    • China – Took over the Middle east as Australia’s biggest lamb and sheep meat market5
    • Middle East markets – take a lighter lamb, most sourced locally or from the New England area5
      • recently was a good market for mutton to ME but now is not viable to produce for5
  • Most prime lamb is sourced within 100km of abattoir5
    • 70% of the meat processed is service kill.5
    • 30% is export5
  • Currently processing 4000 lambs and 200 cattle a day, with 200 employees5
  • Cootamundra abattoir is confident of continued source of supply even if abattoir at Young opens5
  • Cootamundra compete with abattoirs in Victoria and Queensland for livestock5
  • September. New Goat abattoir is proposed at Blayney, off Newbridge road14.
    • Blayney is located approximately 200km North East of Cootamundra14
    • Goat specific abattoir $38M project14
      • Only one of its kind in the state of NSW14
        • Capacity 13,500 goats14
          • 4,500 processed daily14
        • located at the current SeaLink Freezer site14
      • could employ 165 people likely 5 days per week14
    • Environmental impact will be completed mid October14
    • Strong opposition from neighbours, residents and business in regards to noise, traffic, smell and impact of the facility14
  • Cootamundra livestock producers are looking to a 2nd abattoir in Cootamundra to process livestock for the domestic market15.
    • Export lines are given priority kill over other supplies of kill space15.
      • Facility and management require large numbers and would desire full vertical control of all animals and outgoing meat products15
    • Many farmers in the area are organic producers15.
    • Manildra investment is great for the town has meant some producers have had to seek other facilities to kill stock15
    • Manildra meat Company have offered producers services of its plant on commercial terms appropriate to the operation of the business15.
  • October. Cootamundra abattoir is currently export registered #8743
    • Operator – Manildra Meat Company43
      • Licensed to process beef, sheep, goat and offal43
  • November. 2nd abattoir in Cootamundra gains momentum with a proposed location identified along Turners Lane16
    • Facility would focus on service kills16
    • small multi-species abattoir16
    • Local farmer David Booth leading the push for the abattoir16
      • previously had lambs and goats processed at Manildra16
      • Not allowed to open a small abattoir on his property due to Council Local Environment Plan of the area zoning16
    • Investment funding is being sought16
      • Potential investors have pledged support16
        • wholesalers in Canberra, butchers and small farm operations16
    • Proposed abattoir would be independently run16
    • New proposal could exist with current abattoir16
      • We will focus on small, domestic service kills, They will be all about processing only  with no packaging or wholesale from the site. We don’t intend to put anything in a box” Mr David Booth16.
  • December. $10M upgrades are occurring at the Cootamundra abattoir17.

2015

  • March. Facilities staff and management commit to very high standards of Animal Welfare18
    • Livestock manager David Alexander18
    • Abattoir aimed to not only meet industry standards but be industry leaders18.
  • Animal Welfare is the single biggest issue currently being faced18
    • Improvements are made to ensure the animals are calm and as stress free as possible18
  • A new shed will increase the undercover capacity to 7,000 animals18
    • sheep will be kept dryer and cleaner18
    • New pens will enable better access to water18
    • flooring used will be steel mesh18
      • Previous timber floors break and cause injury18
  • Vets are in attendance each day and asses each animal for injury and ailments18
  • Any animals deemed unfit for slaughter are euthanased18

dog-muzzeled-26-03-2015

Source ‘Animal Welfare awareness at the abattoir’ Cootamundra Herald 26/03/2015

Working dogs are muzzled to prevent biting. The dogs are restrained in purpose built dog boxes when not required and used sparingly.

  • Graded steel ramp used for the sheep to reach the initial restrainer stunning area is about 3 – 5 storeys high. Sheep were unsettled when the sheep could see they were elevated. Construction of a corrugated iron floor beneath the ramp, concealed the height and allowed the sheep to move up it more calmly18.
    • Eventually the entire ramp will be concealed18.

sheep-moving-calmly-along-to-restraint-26-03-2015

Source ‘Animal Welfare awareness at the abattoir’ Cootamundra Herald 26/03/2015

Sheep following each other towards the restrainer

aw-awareness-26-03-2015

Source ‘Animal Welfare awareness at the abattoir’ Cootamundra Herald 26/03/2015

This sheep stands at the top of the ‘restrainer’ before it is electronically stunned by the device pictured

  • 4 men herd the sheep through the gates and towards the stunning area18.
  • 3 men are stationed at the helm of the operation of the stick hole18
    • 1 is the stunner and 2 hang the limp carcases18
  • Manildra process 3,400 sheep and lambs each day18
    • and 100 head of cattle18
    • Site is being upgraded to process 4,000 sheep and lambs18
      • and 300 head of cattle a day18
  • June. Seasonal downturn allows for upgrades to the meatworks19
  • Rumours working hours have been reduced19
  • Lamb prices were up to $6.10/kg carcase weight at the last Cootamundra stock yard sale19
    • Higher prices are believed to be part of the reason for cut in production19
  • Other abattoirs are facing similar issues19
    • Dubbo, Fletchers had shut its plant for a week due to a shortage of sheep19
      • Non-production week used to do maintenance on the plant19

 

2016

  • September. Abattoir nears completion of capital works20
    • Expansion of the beef slaughter floor20
    • Improvements to staff amenities20
  • Had been a contraction in beef processing line  due to on farm and saleyard cattle prices22
  • October. Dam located on Manildra meats property bursts it banks and nearly derails a train21
    • Dam is located 2km from the abattoir facility21
    • Dam only contains run off storm water21
    • Dam had burst its banks and washed away part of a railway embankment21.

dam-burst-06-10-2016

Source ‘Train nearly derailed as dam bursts’ Cootamundra Herald 06.10.2016

Dam located on Manildra Meat company land bursts its bank and undermines the train track.

  • As of December this year the Cootamundra abattoir would no longer process meat for Woolworths22.
    • Traditionally Woolworths had been a major customer22
    • Well known in 2010 that lamb meat processed in Cootamundra was sold throughout NSW Woolworths stores22.
    • Followed a competitive tender process24
    • Loss of Woolworths will provide Cootamundra opportunity to expand domestic and export business22
  • Staff numbers would be assessed according to seasonal demands and industry challenges22
  • Contract to process lambs for Woolworths has been lost to the Junee Abattoir24
  • Local producer Ron Ward and ACT’s Griffith butchery win 3 awards at the Official Great Aussie pie competition25
    • Mr Ron Ward used to have his meat processed at Cootamundra but since 2014 now has his stock processed at Cowra25.
  • November. New General Manager Jason Graham26
    • Managed New Zealand abattoir 3 years26
      • New Zealands’ largest red meat processing facility26
  • Accessible abattoirs willing to process organic produced animals is of concern to local producers27.
  • Very important to local producers to have the capability to diversify to spread risk and enable a spread of earning possibilities27
    • Manildra closed its beef floor to organic animals27
    • Cowra’s Breakout River abattoir beef line is fully booked at the moment27
    • Young abattoir may re-open for beef, but not sure when27
    • Sheep can be service- killed at Cootamundra27
    • Goats can be killed at Cootamundra27

2017

  • February. Manildra Meat Company, Cootamundra Abattoir will close28
    • Last kill will occur 24/02/201728
    • Plant will be mothballed28
  • Authors note – Mothballed is a term used to describe placing a facility in shutdown but still keeping up maintenance and all required standards to re-open and begin operation of animal slaughter in a short period of time. Facilities may maintain Aus-meat registration status even though they are not actually processing any stock.
    • A maintenance team will be at the facility28
  • Very difficult meat processing environment at the moment28
    • Near record high slaughter cattle prices28
    • Intense export market competition28
      • particularly Brazil28
    • Processors have taken heavy losses in the last 12 months28
      • A QLD processor was reporting losses of $200 per head on heavy grass-fed steers28
  • Facility currently employed 150 permanent and 70 casual staff28
    • All employees will be paid full entitlements28
  • All outstanding financial obligations will be met28
  • Plant will not be sold29
  • “We cannot continue to maintain a viable business in the current industry environment, particularly given the record high livestock prices and the inability of our customers to absorb these price increases” Manildra Meat General Manager Jason Graham29
  • Abattoir operations can be a volatile industry especially when cattle prices are at the level they are at now. My thoughts are with the individuals and families as they go through this tough time” Member for Cootamundra. Katrina Hodgkinson30
  • Cootamundra township has a current population of 7,500 people32
    • Loss of 220 jobs in that size of a town has a huge impact32
    • Some staff have applied and obtained work at other meat processing facilities such as Wagga Wagga #291 NSW, Gundagai #106 NSW and Young #128 NSW. 33
    • Some staff have also been accepted to work at the Junee Correctional centre33
  • Roger Fletcher, Owner of abattoirs at Dubbo.2 #2309 NSW  and Narrikup in WA comments on the current trading conditions of processing lamb and sheep at the moment and that it is a tough industry32
    • “I do the numbers and it’s unsustainable where we’re at”. Roger Fletcher32
    • “It’s a bit like if there are six hotels in a town and there’s only enough room for five drinkers, one’s got to close. And there will be more close.” Roger Fletcher32
  • April. JBS Australia announce they will temporarily close two of its southern lamb processing plant due to current livestock supply and price conditions31.
  • Other facilities that have also stopped production or reduced throughput recently are31
  • Some plants are currently operating on loss-making skeleton 3 day weekly kills31
  • Recent spate of abattoir closures raises questions in regards to over capacity of the processing sector with oversupply of stock due to drought31
  • Has been high levels of foreign investment interest in investments directed into processing31

Sources Cootamundra #87

  1. ‘5,000 jobs at risk: Abattoirs facing closure’ Sydney Morning Herald 21.05.1996
  2. ‘Productivity: Cootamundra’s robotic carcase cutter wins innovation award’ Beef Central 04.06.2012
  3. http://www.beefcentral.com/processing/cootamundra-plant-blazes-trail-in-carbon-mitigation-projects/
  4. http:’Manildra secures Cootamundra beef, lamb abattoir, despite Chinese competition’ Beef Central 27.06.2014
  5. http://www.theland.com.au/news/agriculture/general/news/meat-from-coota-to-the-world/2704030.aspx
  6. AUS-MEAT accreditation list 01.01.2014
  7. AUS-MEAT accreditation list 1987
  8. MSA Licensed Plants Meat and Livestock Australia 27.08.2013
  9. ‘Woolworths not to blame for product recall: GM Scott’ ABC News 07.06.2008
  10. ‘Woolies recalls lamb products’ ABC News 07.06.2008
  11. ‘Meatworks manager leaves in wake of Woolies lamb recall’ www.austfoodnews.com.au 11.06.2008
  12. ‘Loss of noble man’ http://www.cootamundraherald.com.au 05.12.2012
  13. ‘Abattoir purchase official’ Cootamundra Herald 27.06.2014
  14. ‘Blayney neighbours unhappy with plans for goat abattoir’ Western Advocate 26.09.2014
  15. ‘Farmers look to a second Cootamundra abattoir’ Foodmagazine 08.09.2014
  16. ‘Second abattoir proposal gains momentum’ Cootamundra Herald  21.11.2014
  17. ‘Manildra Group’s meaty move’ Stock and Land 13.12.2014
  18. ‘Animal Welfare awareness at the abattoir’ Cootamundra Herald 26/03/2015
  19. ‘Manildra remains committed to town’ Cootamundra Herald 11.06.2015
  20. a
  21. ‘Train nearly derailed as dam bursts’ Cootamundra Herald 06.10.2016
  22. ‘End of an era for Cootamundra abattoir’ Cootamundra Abattoir 26.10.2016
  23. Manildra Meat website
  24. ‘Competitive process results in end of Cootamundra contract’ Cootamundra Herald 27.10.2016
  25. ‘Vote of confidence for local farm’ Cootamundra Herald 28.10.2016
  26. ‘Manildra director pays tribute to former CEO’ Cootamundra Herald 01.11.2016
  27. ‘Spreading risk at Cootamundra’ Cootamundra Herald 15.11.2016
  28. ‘Cootamundra plant closure could flag more widespread processor shut-downs’ Beef Central 17.02.2017
  29. ‘150 permanent and 70 casual staff out of a job’ Cootamundra Herald 17.02.2017
  30. ‘Member for Cootamundra, Katrina Hodgkinson saddened by decision’ Cootamundra Herald 17.02.2017
  31. ‘Indefinite closures for JBS lamb plants, as supply challenge reaches critical point’ Beef Central 20.04.2017
  32. ‘Shortage of lambs for slaughter pushing up prices, forcing abattoir closures’ ABC Rural 24.02.2017
  33. ‘Meatworkers consider their fate after abattoir shuts down’ Cootamundra Herald 24.02.2017
  34. ‘World on a plate, A history of meat processing in Australia’ Stephen Martyn. 2012
  35. Aus-Meat Accreditation Listing 1987
  36. Aus-Meat Accreditation Listing November 1997
  37. Aus-Meat Accreditation Listing March 2000
  38. Aus-Meat Accreditation Listing July 2008
  39. Aus-Meat Accreditation Listing July 2009
  40. Aus-Meat Accreditation Listing March 2010
  41. Aus-Meat Accreditation Listing January 2013
  42. Aus-Meat Accreditation Listing October 2014

 

Harden

Built in the 1970’s by council, Southern meats purchased and ran with US consortium. US sheepmeat import tariffs caused short closures but lack of supply of animals due to extended drought caused final closure in 2006.

Other Names

  • None known.

Current Operation

  • Closed 20065

Location   

  • Harden is located in south west NSW, 30km south of Young

 

Hema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.

Owner

  • General Manager – Glen Crebs (American)1
  • Southern Meats – Manager Neville Newton2

Other abattoirs in Australia

Go to this link to view Location of Australian Abattoirs

abattoirs_edited-1   

Operation

  • Sole purpose was to process lambs for the American market1
    • Primarily for the North American market7
  • Boning room is purpose built for further processing of customer orders.7
  • Skins collected are processed at Goulburn to drum salt stage7
  • Employs 150 people2 
  • Brands – Fine Brand, Country Meadow, Southern Cross.7

History

1970’s

  • Plant was built by the local council3

1980

  • facility sold to private business3

1987

  • November. Harden facility is listed as a Domestic meat processing site10.
    • Operated as Harden Slaughterhouse10

1995

  • Glen Crebs came to site when smaller abattoir existed, joint venture of operation was created.1

1998

  • opened as joint venture with Superior Farms USA.1
  • facility was refurbished in the late 1990’s3
  • Converted to an export-only meatworks supplying high quality lamb to overseas markets3

1999

  • USA considering placing tarriff on Australian and New Zealand lamb in response to calls from the struggling Americal lamb industry1
    • USA trade is worth more than $100M each year1
  • 10,000 lambs slaughtered at Harden each week,1
    • all cut to suit USA market demand1
      • racks, not chops1
      • sold as ‘Country Meadow Austral American Brand’1
  • June. If increased tarriffs are implemented by USA it would be worst-case scenerio for Harden1
  • Note of a recent event that occured in the region; the loss of jobs at Harden abattoir affecting lamb producers following the US lamb tariff decision4

2001

  • Southern Meats Pty Ltd – figures for year ending December 20026, Harden and Goulburn abattoir (NSW)
    • Ranked 10th in Top 25 Australian beef and Sheepmeat processors for 20016
    • Throughput 65,000 ETCW (estimated tonnes carcase weight)6
    • Turnover $225M6

2002

  • Southern Meats Pty Ltd – figures for year ending December 20026, Harden and Goulburn abattoir (NSW) combined.
    • Ranked 12th in Top 25 Australian beef and Sheepmeat processors for 20026
    • Throughput 49,000 ETCW (estimated tonnes carcase weight)6
    • Kill share 1.8%6
    • Turnover $206M6
    • Total staff 7006

2003

  • Plant forced to shut down for 3 months as stock numbers dwindled.3
    • Closed due to supply shortage during the drought.9
  • Southern Meats Pty Ltd – figures for year ending December 20037, Harden and Goulburn abattoir (NSW) combined.
    • Ranked 14th in Top 25 Australian beef and Sheepmeat processors for 20027
    • Throughput 46,675 ETCW (estimated tonnes carcase weight)7
    • Turnover $180M7

 2004

  • Now owned by Southern Meats Goulburn2
    • with an American consortium3
    • Authors note – some articles show Southern meats owned the plant prior to 2004, I’m not sure if 2004 is just when the American consortium joined.
  • June. Plant staff had been stood down2
    • 120 full time staff.2
  • Last 18 months meatworks in Woy Woy, Mudgee abattoir (NSW), Orange, Forbes abattoir (NSW) have all closed, loss of close to 500 jobs.3
  • July. closed, possibly for the next 2 years.2
    • Situation hasn’t been good for 2-3 last years2
    • expected to stay closed at least for 12 months and possibly longer3
      • effects of the worst drought on record continue to be felt in the region3
      • Until the drought breaks there is a lot of uncertainty all through the bush. The company really had no option but to close down” Harden Mayor, Chris Manchester3
  • Major problem facing industry was lack of growth in Australian sheep flock2
    • skyrocketing cost of lambs in recent years2
    • Breaking even on selling lambs at $100 but paying $150.2
    • Lamb prices in general were higher than what the US can pay2
  • Southern Meats Pty Ltd – figures for year ending December 20047, Harden and Goulburn abattoir (NSW) combined.
    • Ranked 10th in Top 25 Australian beef and Sheepmeat processors for 20047
    • Throughput 55,000 ETCW (estimated tonnes carcase weight)7
    • Kill share 2.6%7
    • Turnover $185M7
    • Total staff 4807
    • Productio split 95% export, 5% domestic7
    • Species split 75% sheep, 25% lamb7

2005

  • August. Abattoir wil re-open as lamb numbers increase across the region.9

2006

  • September. Operated for early part of 2006 before being shut permanently  and broken up.8
  • Abattoir closed5
    • 130 jobs lost5
  • Boning and packing facilities continued to be leased to others who processed stock11

2008

  • Local producers start Argyle Meat business11.
    • Lachlan and Andrina Graham11
      • Integrated supply chain meat business that leased the boning and packing facilities11.

2014

  • July. Argyle Meats who had been leasing the boning and packing facilities at this time move their operation to the former dairy factory at Nowra11
    • Nowra facility was more high-tech11

Sources

  1. ‘Unkindest cut for small town abattoir’ Sydney Morning Herald 14.06.1999
  2. ‘Harden abattoir closes; Goulburns future uncertain’ Goulburn Post 11.07.2004
  3. ‘Abattoir cuts 150 jobs’ AMIEU Archives. 05.07.2004
  4. Regional radio inquiry submission – Federation of Australian radio broadcasters limited. November 2000.
  5. ‘Positive outlook for Harden in 2014’ Harden Murrumburrah Express 13.12.2013
  6. Feedback’s Top 25 beef and sheepmeat processors for 2002.
  7. Feedback’s Top 25 red meat processors for 2004
  8. Feedback’s Top 25 red meat processors for 2006.
  9. ‘Harden abattoir reopens boosting local economy’ NSW ABC country hour. 17.06.2005
  10. List. Nov 1987.
  11. ‘Manildra Group’s meaty move’ http://www.farmonline.com.au

Queensland abattoirs listed – regions

North Queensland

Ayr abattoir (QLD)

Small processor located 90km south of Townsville, currently in operation

Biboohra abattoir (QLD)

Historical abattoir closed in 1927, Also known as Baron works, located near Mareeba.

Owned by MJ Munro, operated as a slaughterhouse in the early days and then a cannery.

Bowen abattoir (QLD)

Located 230km south of Townsville on the QLD coast.Was in operation at 1919, went through fires, labour disputes and temporary closures. Purchased by AMH, the final owners and permanently closed in 1997.

Cairns abattoir (QLD)

Cairns (more commonly known as Queerah meatworks) was located in far north QLD received cattle from mainly north Australia, often by Barge from the NT and Normanton that had travelled from the gulf of Carpentaria in the 1960’s to 1975. Began to export in 1950’s closed in 1989 as part of the AMH rationalisation strategy of its abattoir capacity through the 1980’s.

Camooweal abattoir (QLD)

Located 190km northwest of Mt Isa, small processor currently operating that supplies own butchery for retail.

Canon Vale (QLD)

A small local processor currently in operation, located 70 km south of Bowen between Townsville and Mackay.

Cape River abattoir (QLD)

Located  south west of Townsville. Closed in 1986 due to the AMH  rationalisation strategy of its abattoirs capacity through the 1980’s.

Pentland abattoir (QLD)

Built prior to WWII, At one stage was the 2nd largest meatworks in Queensland. Last owned by AMH consortium, closed in 1989

Ross River abattoir (QLD)

Built in 1882, QLD meat export agency formed supplied contracts for supply of product to England. Plagued by industrial action its whole operating life most notably in 19919 when a violent clash between the unions and police occurred. Been through ownership receiver, beef price crash, strikes, droughts and market changes. Smorgons meat processors, last owner collapses in 1994, facility closed in 1995. Site now developed as a residential site with only the chimney still remaining as a historic site.

Tolga abattoir (QLD)

Small processor currently operating near Cairns

Townsville – Stuart

Owned by JBS. Large beef processor located in far north QLD

Tully abattoir (QLD)

Small processor currently operating between Cairns and Townsville

Weipa abattoir (QLD)

Small local processor

Central Queensland

Charleville abattoir – goat processor (Central QLD)

A goat processing facility that is currently operating located in central QLD. This facility exports all its production. Has had past problems of securing visa workers to ensure ability to process production. Floods have affected operations and government costs while plant has been closed at different periods.

Clermont abattoir (QLD)

Small local processor

Cloncurry #1 abattoir (QLD)

Small local processor currently operating

Cloncurry #2, proposed abattoir (QLD)

Proposal sponsored by DAFF 2012. Consider establishment of an abattoir at Cloncurry to process cattle from north west QLD and NT. Based on processing 100,000 heavy cattle per year, costing $49M to build not including land or government services. Marginal return expected on investment.

El Arish abattoir (QLD)

Located near Innisfail, a small processor that is currently operating.

Giru abattoir (QLD)

Domestic abattoir currently operating south of Townsville

Innisfail abattoir (QLD)

Owned by CMG then Teys, Hit by cyclone Larry in 2006, never to be reopened, equipment scrapped and auctioned off in 2011.

Mt Isa abattoir (QLD)

Built in the war years and closed in 1986

Southern Queensland

Beenleigh abattoir (QLD)

Large facility owned by Teys, currently in operation located south of Brisbane.Recently had a number of wage disputes. Invests heavily in new technology to optimise labour efficencies, currently operating 2 shifts processing 1,300 cattle per day

Caboolture abattoir (QLD)

Located in Queensland, one of only 2 abattoirs in Australia accredited for export of horse meat.

Dinmore abattoir (QLD)

The largest meat processing plant in Australia, currently operating and owned by JBS Australia. Located near Brisbane QLD.

Kilcoy abattoir (QLD)

Located northwest of Brisbane and primarily processes grainfed cattle. 4th largest abattoir in Australia, currently operating.

Oakey abattoir (QLD)

Located near Toowoomba, a large processing facility of mainly grain-fed beef, owned by Nippon. Currently processing up to 1300 animals per day. Has undergone significant upgrades to enable traceability for organic certification and assurances, with current work being carried out on methane gas collection. Problems in the past have been market fluctuations, unions and costs of production

Surat abattoir – Kangaroo processor (QLD)

Games meat abattoir located south of Roma. Processes Kangaroo. Started in mid 1980’s, possibly now closed due to floods, debt and costs of services to operate.

Cygnet

Other Names

  • Cradoc Hill
  • Cradoc Blue Hill abattoir

Current Operation

  • Currently operating at time of writing 03.01.2014

Location   

  • Cradoc Hill is located approximately 10km north west of Cygnet. Cygnet is located approximately 70km by road south west of Hobart in southern Tasmania

Australia. Cygnet

CygnetHema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.

Owner

  • Dave, Rita Stephens and Michael Munnings8
  • James Lord (2011)1

Operation   

  • Cygnet is only major abattoir south of Cressy abattoir (Tas) in the northern Midlands.4
  • A small service kill abattoir for the use of local producers who may only have one or low number of animals to process.3
  • Some product is now commercially being sold to retailers under brand names7
  • Producers may retain ownership of product and use for their own purposes or value add and further sell to retail.7
  • Process large animals cattle7
  • Process small animals calves, sheep, lambs, deer, rabbits, poultry and pigs.2

History

2009

  • Cygnet is featured in the ‘Gourmet Farmer’ SBS series with local producer Mathew Evans3
  • In reference to Cygnet abattoir and  taking two of his pigs to be slaughtered there3

” ..is run by people who want to help smallholders. Who understand you may only have one sheep, one pig to kill at at time. They make it easier for people who want to rear their own meat, to get it killed legally and affordably. If there’s one thing I’m happy about with the death of my pigs, it’s that the abattoir at Cradoc hill will do the right thing by them” Mathew Evans3

2011

  • June. Dave and Rita Stephens had operated the abattoir for a number of years and wished to retire.1
    • Possible a consortium of interested parties may pool resources to buy the freehold and operate the business1
  • Loss of this abattoir to the community would have been a severe blow to the local producers small and large.2
    • Important to know the animals are free-range and killed humanely with many producers following their animal through process of delivery to final product of meat cuts.2
    • some producers larger animals sheep and cattle while others have pigs, goats, rabbits.2
    • Some are niche market meats and by-products2
    • Economies of the dairy and fleece buisinesses would be marginal or impossible without access to an abattoir, local market for vealers and wethers2
    • Producers would be forced to send stock to northern processing works – some over 4 hours drive from Cygnet3
    • Products also sourced for bone, pig ears for pets, blood and bone for gardens, organs for university and forensic research2
  • July. Abattoir closes for two weeks when new buyer moves in.2
  • James Lord purchases Cygnet facility2

2013

  • Development of two meat brand logos7
    • Blue Logos – Cradoc Hill meat – targets premium interstate markets7

logo _edited-1Source – Cradoc Hill website – Logo used to promote products to Interstate markets.

meat selections _edited-1Source – Cradoc Hill website – Example of meat cuts offered in a box sale being offered direct to door of customers through website sales.

meat selections _edited-2Source – Cradoc Hill website – Example of meat cuts offered in a box sale

    • Green Logo- Huon Valley meats – targets the Hobart market and surrounds.7

Huon valley logo _edited-1Source – Huon Valley Meats website – Logo used to promote products local markets.

“We source our produce from farmers we know and trust, We are particular in who we work with, seeking out growers who genuinely enjoy raising their stock and who take pride in growing the highest quality produce” James Lord

  • Cygnet now processing 20-30 cattle, 100 lambs and 20-30 pigs a week.7
    • employs 8 people, 4 permanent and 4 casual7

Sources

  1. http://www.theviewfrommyporch.blogspot.com.au
  2. ‘Save Cradoc Hill Abattoir’ Tasmanian Times 14.06.2011
  3. ‘Killing the pigs’ Gourmet Farmer. SBS. 18.12.2009
  4. ‘James meats his destiny’ The Mercury. 29.07.2011
  5. Huon Valley Meats website
  6. Cradoc Hill website
  7. ‘Huon meat goes for fine dining’ The Mercury. 20.12.2013
  8. http://www.buffaloaustralia.org

Devonport

Devonport abattoir, located in Tasmania and owned by JBS, a multi species abattoir with a checkered past.

Other Names

  • North West Rendering8
  • Devonport City abattoir.

Current Operation

  • Aus Meat Accreditation registration dated 29/12/2015 #13T – JBS Australia Pty Ltd (Devonport).18
    • registered as a Beef, Sheep and Pig, Domestic facility.16
  • Direct employment enquiries to www.jbssa.com.au

Location   

  • Devonport is located approximately midway on the Northern coast of Tasmania

Australia. Devonport

DevonportHema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.

Owner

Operation 

  • Multi species abattoir located ajacent to Devonport saleyards1

    • Processes beef, sheep and pork1
    • Capacity 150 beef daily and 1,200 Smallstock daily (Lamb, mutton, Veal and Pork)1
  • Employs 150 people1

History

1977

  • Devonport rendering plant had been in operation6
    • Note – some conflict of when abattoir operations began, not sure if 1977 was a previous owner prior to Devonport City abattoir acquisition.

1980

  • Meatworks operation began9

1995

  • August. Employee Ian Sutton sacked by abattoir for mistreatment of sheep, Industrial relations hearing of Ian Sutton was supported by AMIEU for unfair dismissal – court dismissed and sacking held.10

1997

  • Expanded rendering works.5

2000

  • October. Quoiba Progress Association Ltd v North West Rendering Pty Ltd. – Resource Management and Planning appeal tribunal found that the rendering works had caused material harm in breach of section 52 of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act.5
    • Facility was to cease operating unless after 12 months it could reduce emissions of odour by 2 odour units.5
    • NWR given 18 months to fix odour problems7

2001

  • Rendering works was the only facility in Tasmania taking external meat waste from around the state to5

2002

  • March. Contested hearing conducted – regarding Rendering works – to consider if had complied with tribunal orders5
    • residents still experiencing odour problems7
    • Works operators and Director of Environmental management submitted to hearing that rendering works had “substantially complied”5
    • Quoiba Progress association disputed claim.5
    • Tribunal found rendering works hadn’t complied – effectively ruling that after 27 April 2002 operation of the rendering works at the current premises in Quoiba was unlawful5
    • Given 12 months to relocate7
    • NWR commenced supreme court action challenging original decision5
      • Judge ruled testing regime for acceptable odour emissions as set out in original orders was too unclear7
      • Matter set back to original tribunal panel to decide if any fresh orders should be made.7
  • June. Smithton abattoir (Tas) retrenches 21 workers.11
    • Blue Ribbon (owners of Smithton) insolvent and collapse.12
  • Devonport says it is doing well but calls for inquiry into the state meat industry11
  • September. Agreement reached for new site for rendering plant8
    • Previous negotiations had considered operating hours and ungrades.8
      • Planning & Appeals tribunal decreed odour still unacceptable.8
    • NRW have agreed with Websters to purchase 65ac near Parramatta creek.8
    • Cost of $3M8

2003

  • August. Installed $125,000 bio-oxygen odour control generator at the rendering plant6
    • Local residents had complained of smells since 19776
  • Abattoir had considered relocated but was unable to find suitable land in the last 12 months6
  • Would have to sack 200 people if business was closed6
  • September. Resource Management and Planning Tribunal would rule on decision to allow plant to operate or close it down6

2004

  • Devonport City abattoir had owned Wignalls – sold to Tasma smallgoods in Hobart.
    • focus on contract killings at Devonport (Quoiba) site

2005

  • July.Tasman Group purchase Devonport facilities.9
  • Resource Management and Planning tribunal hearing7
    • North West Rendering Pty Ltd (NWR) confirmed that the rendering plant and land had been sold and the company was no longer involved with the operation of the plant – to Tasman Group Services (JBS)7
    • NWR changed name to Brown and Grey No2 Pty Ltd.5
    • Quoiba progress Association to work with new owners to address odour problems.7
    • Tribunal was unable to make any orders in relation to ongoing plant operations7

2006

  • Tasman Group Chairman – Giuseppe Catalfamo brided Cole’s head of supermarket merchadising Peter Scott (Coles fired Scott in 2007).13
    • Scott had acquired million dollar bayside apartment from Catalfamo13
    • Considered a breach of retailers code of conduct – Tasman group main supplier of beef in Victoria and Tasmania13
    • Catalfamo been caught bribing and meat substitution in past – horse-meat substitution scandel that threatened Australia’s export industry 20 years ago, fined and banned from exporting to the USA for 10 years.13
  • Devonport abattoir provides Woolworths with fresh sausages for 29 Tasmanian stores13
  • Tasman Group – report ending 200513
    • sales had increased 30% but profit halved to $6.3M13
    • Company borrowings total nearly $62M13
      • Main creditors – National Australia Bank, ANZ and Japanese meat company Hannan Corporation13

2008

  • JBS purchased as part of Tasman group when entered Australia with acquitsition of AMH3
  • Tasman Group consists of abattoirs in Tasmania – Longford, Devonport and King Island14
    • Tasman group 3 abattoirs in Tasmania including King Island and 3 in Victoria.14
    • JBS paid $US150M14
  • JBS also purchased Smithfield Group $US565M14
    • Has four abattoirs14
  • JB also purchase National Beef $US560M14
    • Has three abattoirs14
    • 2 meat processing facilities14

2011

  • JBS elect to combine it’s US and Australian beef processing results into a common finanical report presented at ‘US beef’.22
  • Impossible to distinguish Australia’s performance and contribution to the overall result.22

2012

  • JBS Australia split into two operating entities to make Northern and Southern regions in relation to abattoirs and feedlots within those areas15.
    • South – Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania15
    • North – NSW and QLD.15

2013

  • Closure of King Island abattoir (Tas) assisted the supply of cattle to Longford.
  • JBS “Company is still pleased with its decision to close (King Island)” John Berry. JBS director2
    • Islands King Island and Flinders supply 200-450 head cattle a week, higher in spring run.3
    • Longford process 450 cattle a day – 4 day week roster.3
  • King Island cattle supply receives freight subsidy – sliding scale – $26 into Stanley in proximity to Smithton abattoir (Tas), $30 into Devonport4.Where cattle can be sent to Devonport or Longford abattoir (Tas)
    • Scale acts as disincentive to increase freight efficency.4
  • September. JBS launch brand launch.20

Beef central 27.09.2013 logo

Great Southern Logo. Source Beef Central 27.09.2013

  • Great Southern grassfed beef and lamb.20
    • Products first of their type in Australia.20
    • third party audited program JAS/ANZ ISO.20
    • 65 accredited farm quality assurance programs backing the brand.20
    • huge demand in domestic and global customers for traceable fresh grassfed meat.20
      • supplied by best practice producers with better livestock genetics.20
      • MSA graded for eating quality.20
      • Farmers would receive premium prices.20
        • 10c/kg premium applied to grid for UK.20
        • 650 farmers through NSW, Vic & Tasmania accredited to supply the program.20
        • Audit costs (for farmers) are paid by JBS.20
          • Audits conducted by AsureQuality.20
        • Animals are consigned driect to JBS.20
        • forward pricing.20
        • Animals consigned through saleyards would not be eligible.20
  • “Today the margins are so tight that if you want a point of difference and that premium or no discount, you have got to be involved with quality assurance” Jeremy Upton, Producer.20
  • November. JBS Swift Australia install closed-circuit television camera’s (CCTV) in it’s Australian meatworks.21
    • For the purpose of animal welfare and meatworker safety issues.21
    • CCTV for internal use by only JBS, with no plans to allow outsiders to view the footage.21
  • JBS’s US beef division (which includes Australia) delivered drop in net sales and earnings in it’s third quarter financial results.22
    • 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.22
    • Earnings before tax $134M,.22
      • Down by 22.5% on previous quarter.22
      • Down by 28.4% on third quarter last year.22
    • result reflection of domestic North American markets.22
      • Improved performance had occured in Australian.22
        • Demand had increased in Chinese markets.22

2014

  • April. Devonport currently employ 150 people.19
  • July. JBS Australia across all facilities in operation kills daily.15
    • 8,500 cattle,15
    • 24,000 smalls – which includes lambs15
    • Employs more than 8,000 people15
  • December.
    • JBS currently operate 12 meat processing plants across 5 Australian states16
      • Wages & local procurement $730M (Excluding livestock purchases)16
      • Employs 8,500 people at the facilities16
        • Employs 12,000 people in Australia16
      • Total revenue of $6.5B16

    JBS plants 2014_edited-1

    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)16
      • JBS share of Australian beef production 16%16
      • Market share of national small (lamb, mutton & goat) 16%
    • JBS spent $2.4M on halal certification costs of approved religious certifiers in 201416

    2015

    • June. Cost of processing in Australia 1.5-3 times the cost of processing animals in another country16
    • cost of processing grain-fed cattle in Australia is twice of the USA16
      • lower levels of productivity in Australia in regards to kg per unit of labour16
      • 2 major differences between Australia and the USA8
        1. Government regulation
          • $10 a head more in Australia16
          • Dept. of Australian Agriculture fully recover costs of meat export inspection and certification16
            • Australia wide DAFF costs $80M16
            • JBS contribute $14.5M16
          • Export plants don’t use DAFF but use approved employees, which plants fully cover costs16
            • JBS estimate an additional $30M at Export level16
          • USA & Brazil governments provide services at no or minimal costs to processors16
        2. Energy Costs
          • $15 a head more in Australia16
      • Technical barriers to trade (TBT’s)- Total value in Australia estimated at $1.25B as identified costs16
        • 261 TBT’s in 40 key markets16
          • 136 have significant trade distortion impacts16
  • December. ATO publishes tax data for agribusiness corporates.17
    • 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.17
    • Income tax information is for 2013/14.17
    • JBS Holdco Australia Pty Ltd produced Total Income $4,040,948,610.17
      • Taxable Income $419,882,525.17
        • Tax Payable $44,809,334.17

 

Sources Devonport Tas. JBS

  1. http://www.jbsswift.com.au
  2. ‘Abattoir closure continues to bite’ ABC News 14.09.13.
  3. ‘Expansion plans ahead for JBS Longford – One of Australia’s most versatile meat plants’ Beef Central 18.10.13.
  4. ‘King Island freight subsidy fight’ ABC rural. 17.09.2013
  5. Environmental Defenders Office (Tas) inc. Bulletin Dec 2002.
  6. ‘Hope for NW abattoir jobs as stink fades’ Examiner 04.09.2003.
  7. Journal – ‘Impact’ – #79 Sept 2005.
  8. ‘NW rendering plant to Move’ ABC rural 04.09.2002
  9. ‘Devonport abattoir sold’ ABC rural 15.07.2005
  10. AMIEU v Devonport City Abattoir T5776 of 1995
  11. ‘Devonport City abattoir doing well’ ABC rural. 26.06.2002
  12. ‘Australia: Smithton abattoir to reopen tomorrow’ Just foods. 04.03.2002
  13. ‘Woolies sticks by kickback butcher’ SMH. 15.01.2007
  14. ‘Big Beef producer cuts deal with Tasman Group’ The Age. 06.03.2008
  15. ‘The next Swift Shift’ The Weekly Times. 30.07.2014
  16. sub50_JBS Inquiry into the effect of market consolidation on the red meat processing sector
  17. ‘ATO publishes tax data for agribusiness corporates’ Beef Central 18.12.2015
  18. AUS-MEAT Accreditation Listing 29.12.2015
  19. ‘JBS expands its books’ Stock & Land 24.04.2014
  20. ‘JBS unveils new QA driven southern grassfed brand program’ Beef Central 27.09.2013
  21. ‘Swift CCTV camera action’ Weekly Times 13.11.2013
  22. ‘JBS delivers lower third quarter beef sales, revenue’ Beef Central 14.11.2013

Cressy. #19. Tas.

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

Australia. Cressy

CressyHema 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

ABC rural sheep photo_edited-1Source ABC Rural ‘ Stopping Sheep disease..” 16.09.2013

  • Skins salted and sold3

School Salted skins_edited-1Source – 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

abattoirs_edited-1   

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

    ABC rural photo carcases_edited-1Source – 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

Logo_edited-1Source:‘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

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

Warragul

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.

Australia. Warragul

Warragul 001Hema 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
    • 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

Warragul stock sourceSource 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
      • Reduced consumption of electricity by 4.17%2
      • Reduced gas consumption by 30.5%2
      • Reduced fuel use by 19.2%2
      • Reduced water use by 44.5%2

    2012

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

Sources

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

Deniliquin. #2123. NSW

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

Australia. Deniliquin 16.06.13

Deniliquin

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

Outside building _edited-1Source – 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

Inside #2 _edited-1Source – Steers Auctioneers – Meat processing plant – Deniliquin 28.08.2007

Inside #2 _edited-1Source – Steers Auctioneers. Meat Processing plant. 28.08.2007

Yards #1_edited-1Source – Steers Auctioneers – Meat processing plant. Deniliquin 28.08.2007

History

Deni_edited-1Source 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

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 operation10.
  • 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
  • Some facilities that have significantly reduced operations24
  • 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.

Sources  – Deniliquin #2488

  1. ‘Deniliquin abattoir defends hiring overseas workers’ ABC News. 11.09.2006
  2. Deniliquin shire council submission to senate inquiry, Murray Darling basin plan. 22.01.2011.
  3. ‘Deniliquin abattoirs – For sale’ http://www.famicorp.com.au 04.11.2012
  4. ‘Deniliquin abattoir sale stalls’ http://www.mmg.com.au 08.11.2013
  5. ‘Meat Processing plant – Deniliquin NSW’ Steers Auctioneers 28.08.2007
  6. ‘Deniliquin abattoir to reopen’ The Pastoral times. 05.11.13
  7. Mr Buckingham questioning Minister of roads and ports. http://www.parliament.nsw 31.05.11
  8. ‘Lamb prices soar as suppliers struggle to meet demand’ Sydney morning herald. 14.09.2003
  9. ‘Sale deal close on abattoirs’ The Border mail. 19.12.2012
  10. rel_stoner_20140820_deniliquin-abattoir
  11. ‘Abattoir plans for Deni’ The Land 20.03.2014.
  12. ‘New life for old export abattoir’ Liberal Party of Australia 21.08.2014
  13. ‘Cash for abs’ http://www.mmg.com.au. 22.08.2014
  14. ‘Deniliquins abattoir to reopen with investment from NSW Government’ The Weekly Times 26.08.2014
  15. ‘Meat money flows’ http://www.mmg.com.au. 25.11.2014
  16. ‘Abs trial’ http://www.mmg.com.au 25.11.2014
  17. ‘Renovated Riverina abattoir re-opens driving property boom’ ABC Rural 14.01.2015
  18. https://www.ipart.nsw.gov.au/files/6feefd0b-6076-4cce-b3e6-8b0d06615116/Council_Improvement_Proposal.pdf
  19. ‘Record lamb prices killing off country abattoirs’ ABC News 24.02.2017
  20. ‘Abs work halted’ Shepparton News 17.03.2017
  21. ‘Meat Commitment – Administrator to meet with abattoir executives’ Shepparton News 21.03.2017
  22. ‘Sawmill could fill lost jobs’ Shepparton News 24.03.2017
  23. ‘Statement of temporary closure of Deniliquin abattoir’ Edward River council 17.03.2017.
  24. ‘Indefinite closures for JBS lamb plants, as supply challenge reaches critical point’ Beef Central 20.04.2017
  25. ‘Fears for abattoir’s future’ Deniliquin Pastoral Times 11.04.2017
  26. Deniliquin council submission to inquiry into the impact of the Murray Darling basin plan. 22.01.2011
  27. ‘Door shuts on sixth abattoir’ QLD country life. 11.05.2017
  28. ‘Red meat crisis the new MG says MLA boss’ The Weekly times. 27.09.2017 27.09.2017
  29. ‘Catalfamo’s abattoir industry return’ The Stock and Land 11.11.2015
  30. ‘Deniliquin: sheep, lambs, goats, calves’ Stock and Land 11.11.2015
  31. ‘What’s iin store: pointy end of the year’ Stock and Land 09.11.2013
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