High stakes for butchers as abattoirs reduce production statewide

Horsham City Meats owner John Olston said he is confident his business will supply fresh meat to the public.

"I buy from wholesalers in Ballarat who get their meat from local abattoirs," he said.

"There are no abattoirs in Horsham, so we support Penney and Lang Abattoirs, who used to operate out of Carisbrook, but they are now in Kyneton.

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"I've been with these supply chains for almost 40 years, so there is a fair bit of trust.

"You think they would supply us, but with supermarkets about, you never know."

On August 3, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews ordered abattoirs across the state to reduce their onsite workforce by a third.

Abattoirs have been a hotspot for COVID-19 outbreaks, due to the inability to socially distance while working.

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The reduction, and the preceding high number of positive coronavirus cases in Victoria, prompted residents to bulk buy meat.

"We have seen panic buying - Saturday morning was flat out," Mr Olston said.

"This week has been solid too, but we aren't putting in product limits at the moment."

This week, two packs per customer purchase limits returned with Woolworth limit sales of pork, lamb, beef and chicken.

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Coles have restricted mince meat, chicken breast and chicken thigh sales.

"We have plenty of stock and we buy in a lot of wholesale meat," he added.

"I have enough for the next two weeks; after that, only God knows. We expect it to get tight.

"There is no need for panic buying."

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Mr Olston said meat for major supermarket chains travels vast distances before hitting the shelves locally, which may impact on the quality of the product.

"All meat has to be hung and tenderized," he said.

"When it comes to a major supermarket, no meat is cut in the country - all meat is cut in the city in a warehouse.

"They vacuum seal it and send it in trucks overnight.

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"We get whole bodies delivered here and all meat is freshly sliced.

"We don't use preservatives - we'd be closed down if we did - but I don't think a lot of people know that when they buy bulk amounts of meat.

"I reckon it's a better product, but others may disagree with that.

"The customer will make up their own mind."

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