I don't want this thread to get into a animal welfare debate, purely on the economics.
With the rise in live export cattle, processors this year are struggling to startup after the christmas break.
Numerous plants from north Queensland to Victoria are dropping daily shifts, some plants have completely dropped a second shift and some have failed to start up all.
The meat industry is a supply and demand business, cattle prices are still high.
You don't hear much on the news about losing there jobs in this industry or workers only surviving on 2 to 3 days a week of paid work. In this industry if the plant doesn't work the worker doesn't get paid.
Better for some to get unemployment benefits that turn up for work.
Is the live cattle industry taking away the surplus cattle that these places rely on in the leaner times.
Are we creating jobs in one area and then losing them in another.
A bit of good reading below if some are interested.
Weekly kill: More cracks starting to show, as plants succumb to meagre cattle supply
By Jon Condon, 09 February 2016
The list of beef processors making significant adjustments to operations this year in the face of a meagre slaughter cattle supply continues to grow.
http://www.beefcentral.com/processi...ow-as-plants-succumb-to-meagre-cattle-supply/
Live exporters begin sourcing heavy cattle out of southern feedlots
By Jon Condon, 18 January 2016
Live exporters servicing Southeast Asian markets are for the first time sourcing heavy slaughter-weight cattle from southern Qld and northern NSW feedlots – in direct competition with grainfed beef processors.
http://www.beefcentral.com/markets/live-exporters-sourcing-heavy-cattle-out-of-southern-feedlots/
Teys cops flack from ALEC over explanation behind cutbacks at Lakes Creek plant
By Beef Central, 09 February 2016
Teys has announced a retraction to a single shift this year at the company’s Lakes Creek beef plant, on the back of a reduction in cattle supply and an increase in live cattle exports. But live exporters have rejected the notion that their sector is to blame.
http://www.beefcentral.com/processi...ation-for-cutbacks-at-lakes-creek-operations/
