Small-scale beef producers have been left reeling after Hardwicks abattoir at Kyneton announced it would no longer process small consignments of animals from next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kilcoy Global Foods, which owns the abattoir, said it wouldn’t take orders below 15 head of beef or 50 head of lambs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A letter sent by the company to existing clients said the decision was made after a “detailed review of existing arrangements”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Our updated arrangements will help us and our customers remain competitive in this tough market,” the letter said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The move has shocked farmers who previously relied on the abatoir to process smaller consignments. They may have to travel as far as Swan Hill or Colac instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One such producer is Courtney Hazeldene who operates Ganado Greys Cattle Stud just outside of Bendigo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ms Hazeldene runs about 60 head of cattle and only has about five or six processed a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Just enough to keep things ticking over for my local customers,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I started doing it when the supermarkets ran out of beef at the beginning of covid, selling direct to the consumer.
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“I can still feed my own family with home kills but I’m more concerned about the broader community and getting regular good beef on the table.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ms Hazeldene said she simply didn’t have the number of steers ready at the one time to meet Hardwicks’ minimum order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Even if I did, selling near on 200 beef packs at once is unrealistic,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Finding local butchers with the space and staff to handle 15 bodies of beef at once? Not happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“As a result, I\u2019m devastated that I can no longer supply beef packs and must cancel all future orders.”
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Ms Hazeldene said the decision by Hardwicks had left her, and many other small-scale farmers, bitterly disappointed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The lack of notice and consideration for family farms, small businesses like me and my amazing partner butcher Meats On Mitchell, food security and loyal customers is staggering,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“At a time when cost-of-living pressures are soaring, people need access to affordable, high-quality local produce more than ever. But once again, the big business and supermarkets come out on top. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“For me, this cuts off a crucial income stream. And with Bendigo saleyard also closed, I\u2019m left wondering: where do I send my steers now? I can see why so many farmers are throwing in the towel.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small-scale beef producers have been left reeling after Hardwicks abattoir at Kyneton announced it would no longer process small consignments…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":22278,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[961,3003,46],"ppma_author":[5226],"class_list":["post-22276","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news","tag-hardwicks-meatworks","tag-kilcoy-global-foods","tag-kyneton"],"yoast_head":"\n
\u2013 Hardwicks was contacted for comment.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"