Long wait for abattoirs forcing Tas farmers to take action into own hands

The state has been experiencing its driest conditions in three decades, which has led to many farmers all trying to destock a large number of animals at the same time.

The lack of feed meant farmers are selling stock off interstate and processing livestock earlier than they would like, and some are sadly having to shoot their animals on farms.

Farmers that send cattle to the Smithton, Tas, Greenham processing plant and JBS at Longford, Tas, say they can wait six to eight weeks before getting animals in.

After dairy giant Fonterra ended its supply agreement with Van Dairy Limited, thousands of cows were sent to slaughter, which added to the pressure on processors like Greenham.

Greenham and JBS were contacted.

North Motton, Vic, dairy farmer Gary Carpenter said that he, like other farmers, faced the emotional task of having to euthanise animals as a last resort.

Mr Carpenter said he had to euthanise male bobby calves.

The state's only abattoir taking bobby calves Tasmanian Quality Meats (TQM) lost its licence to process calves in 2023, until it installed new equipment.

Tasfarmers president Ian Sauer said TQM was redoing its abattoir for bobby calves.

A Facebook post about sheep shipped from Burnie interstate drew speculation on social media it was due to no sheep abattoirs in Tasmania.

Mr Sauer said TQM processed sheep at Cressy, Tas, with a wait time of up to four weeks.

He said many sheep were sent interstate for processing because of the "efficient and large abattoirs" with about a two week wait at the moment to get in.

"Tasmania has been so dry for so long, farmers have been madly destocking because feed, hay, silage and grain, is in short supply," he said.

"The only alternative farmers have is to offload livestock, and the price has plummeted.

"It's a bit of a perfect storm."

He said it cost farmers $20 a head to get livestock across Bass Strait.

"Farmers are having to euthanise their own stock, which they absolutely hate doing," he said.

"When farmers euthanise animals because you don't have the feed and can't afford to buy the hay or can't get it and there's no market for them, the only humane thing to do is to euthanise them."

Mr Sauer said more autumn rain was needed and hopefully farmers could start restocking to avoid a stock shortage next year.

Thirlstane, Tas, farmer Matt Ryan said he posted a comment about the sheep sent interstate to help people understand the situation.

"If you all haven't noticed, it hasn't rained in Tasmania much for months...and most farmers are struggling for feed," he posted.

"They are most likely going to the mainland for restocking, where they have some grass."

Mr Ryan said supplementary feed is "extraordinarily expensive".

"I know it's six to eight weeks to get stock into Greenham because I tried to book in," he said.