Global credit crunch hits abattoirs
Posted
Gippsland abattoirs in south-east Victoria are concerned the global financial crisis is starting to affect the price of cattle, meat and by-products.
The falling value of the Australian dollar should be increasing demand for Australian exports.
But Warragul Abattoir owner Robert Radcliff says the export market for cattle hides is slowing down dramatically.
He says overseas buyers will start to look for cheaper grades of meat than Australian producers are accustomed to.
"As low as it has been it's been terrific for exporting, but from what I can gather they're telling me that yesterday the chopper market at Warragul was a fair bit cheaper," he said.
"That, in my opinion, is going against the trend when the Australian dollar is still dropping. So that gives you some idea how dangerous the trading is out there."
