My last Australian visit - An abattoir

My last Australian meeting was with the production manager of an abattoir and he kindly showed me around the abattoir. The abattoir kills 5200 each day. Around 50% is currently exported. It used to be more, nearer 80%. They are EU approved and some goes to the EU. A lot goes to china. Lambs come in to the lairage 24-48hrs before. They have to come in 6-8hrs before slaughter so rarely come in that morning. There is a large lairage area and 15 paddocks. The major differences I noticed to UK abattoirs were the use of dogs in the lairage, the security is not quite as strict and the attention given to the skins. The skins are sorted to 3 ways to start off and then they are treated and then sorted up to 30 different ways depending on wool length, type/breed e.g. merino or crossbred, if there are any skin cuts, any grass seeds in it etc. The biggest markets for the skins are China and Russia, and most of the offal goes to Saudi. I was also surprised that the muck under the layarage is sold to be mixed with woodchip to sell as an organic product.  

Near the abattoir is a Stockyard (livestock market) and I was surprised how there were no barriers or gates between the stockyard and the road and no biosecurity. Most of the market is hardcore/chippings or grass with only a little bit of concrete in the lorry wash area. I was surprised by the large number of trees in it, but I guess these are needed for shade. Near here there were also three agriculture merchants. These stores do everything from selling feed and animal health products to trading wool, insurance, financial advice and estate agents.