Abattoir Closure Leaves Pork Producers in the Lurch

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Latest Pig Industry News

Monday, February 08, 2010

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Abattoir Closure Leaves Pork Producers in the Lurch

AUSTRALIA - Pork producers in south-west New South Wales (NSW) are scrambling to find new abattoirs to slaughter their pigs following the closure of Young's meatworks.

Burrangong Meat Processors was placed into receivership last Tuesday, leaving up to 300 employees without jobs.

ABC reports that it was the only meatworks in the region licensed to kill pigs for the export market.

Farmer Ian Pollard says producers will now have to pay more to transport their animals to alternative abattoirs.

"The local abattoir was just 30 kilometres down the road and now our nearest domestic abattoir is about 90 kilometres away, which is still not too far," he says.

"But Young was an export works, and if we want to go to an export works, our closest one is probably Benalla in Victoria, which is about 450 kilometres away, or we've got to go to Casino in northern NSW."

Meanwhile, NSW police say four computer hard drives were stolen from the Young abattoir three days before Burrangong Meat Processors went into receivership.

The hard drives were stolen from the main office between 10 p.m. on Friday, 29 January and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, 31 January.

Police say the hard drives contained information about the plant, and were worth about $100,000.

The matter is still being investigated.

Police ask anyone who knows information about the theft to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

ThePigSite News Desk