The need for humane and accessible abattoir facilities has never been greater as producers are forced out of larger facilities and face ever-increasing costs of transporting their animals.

Last week’s meeting and tour with the Murray Plains Meat Co-Operative (MPMC) was well attended with everyone being brought up to speed on how the project is progressing. 

“It’s just fantastic,” said beef producer Lindsay Schultz as he toured the facility for the first time.

“It’s so much better than I could have imagined.”

The facility is an impressive site set on a very small footprint and will cater to multispecies processing. Cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry will go from paddock to plate with the facility having capability to butcher and pack onsite. The facility has a maximum annual liveweight processing capacity of 725 tonnes, with the initial throughput looking more like 362.5 tonnes.

The project has had its challenges and complications as the newly formed co-operative was unable to receive grant funding without a history of operation. An agreement was reached with Murray River Council (MRC) to be the funding recipient, with the co-op to then lease and later purchase the facility.

MRC tendered the construction of the facility with the contract being awarded to Steve Tamplin of Tablelands Meats. Mr Tamplin operates his own micro abattoir near Canowindra in NSW. 

With the facility now completed, assessments have and are being undertaken to ensure the facility meets code, such as Safe Work Audit and the Food Safety Plan. 

Some rectification may be a matter for the tenderer, MRC in this case, to follow up with the construction contractor.  

The Food Safety Plan is to be obtained by the operator of the facility, MPMC. A Food Safety Plan is a licensing requirement enforced by Department of Primary Industries NSW. Rectifications are currently in progress, and a Food Safety Plan is being developed by an independent consultant, Gary Kennedy from Correct Food Systems Pty Ltd.

As the facility draws closer to operations, expressions of interest are being sought for processing capacity. Initial assessments of daily throughput are 20-25 sheep or five cattle or 20 pigs or 200 poultry. 

With the crash in price for cattle, sheep and goats, there has never been a better time for producers to value add as the margins from saleyard prices to shop shelves continue to widen. 

This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 12 October 2023.