According to the West Australian, consumers were told to brace for shortages of fresh pork after Craig Mostyn Group, which processes almost all of the State’s pigs at its Linley Valley plant, said yesterday it may suspend operations because of cuts to liquid CO2 supplies which are needed to kill pigs.

The plant had 12 days supply before it would be forced to shut, affecting up to 220 staff, unless it found alternative supplies.

Producers moved quickly to call a crisis meeting with the State Government yesterday, warning the closure would cripple the industry and force farmers to shoot livestock.

Craig Mostyn Group chief executive David Lock said the plant required two tonnes of liquid CO₂ to process 10,500 pigs each week.

WA Pork Producers Association executive officer Russell Cox said the plant’s closure would force already struggling pig farmers into further turmoil and would threaten key export markets.

“This would probably signal the death of the WA pig industry and the loss of hundreds of jobs on-farm, in abattoirs and in associated industries,” he said in a letter to WA Agriculture Minister Kim Chance.

Mr Cox said pigs would have to be destroyed at the farms because they could not be processed beyond agreed, contracted market weights.

View the West Australian story by clicking here.