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Breaking Rural News : LIVESTOCK

Skilled meat workers for Western Australia
Australia
Wednesday, 16 May 2007

To be party to the agreement employers must commit to training Australian workers which will help to guarantee a future workforce for the industry.

The agreement provides West Australian meat companies with a temporary solution to address the shortage of skilled meat workers, while making sure that the jobs of Australian workers are protected.

HKM Welcome this small step biut urge both Governments working with councils Australia wide to make the required changes to the industry to ensure all Animals are slaughtered in our own country where there are `some` Animal Welfare codes.

Jobs for Australia and Animal Welfare should go hand in hand.

Many more training programes should be opended such as this.


SOURCE: Farm Weekly, WA.

Are the "People Against Live Exports & Intensive Farming" going to subsidise farmers who turn down exports in a massively competitive market becuase the "People Against Live Exports & Intensive Farming" have issues with live exports to predominantly muslim nations?

Good Morning STG

Thank You for your question.
The Answer is Yes - Most definetly Yes.
People Against Live Animal Exports are against cruelty involved in the live animal export trade not the meat trade itself. They are a bunch of everyday ordinary people ranging from farmers lawyers and house wives.
Quite different to any other organisation because unlike others we actually promote slaughter of Animals in Australia and hold our Farmers with the respect they deserve.
We work as team of Muslim Leaders to bring about changes for farmers and animals.
We are aware the best way to stop cruelty of animals and to comply with RSPCA standard codes[ which is slaughter as close to origin as possible] is to actually DO something about giving farmers far more options.

I personally feel there is too much interferance with Australian Farmers and we need to start listening to farmers far more and let the polys take a back step.

We are putting together a rather unique programe and working closely with Muslim Leaders of Australia and else where.

We are proud to say already three abattoirs have re commenced Halal Slaughter in QLD with Maylasia and there is a great deal more work being done.

By introducing farmers direct to buyers we know a far better life is just around the corner for our farmers.

Should you know any farmers interested to sell stock or to become involved in opening plants we are happy to asist free of charge.

Perhaps you know for eg a domestic plant who may be interested in updating to exports. We are happy to assist with AQIS requirements and Halal accreditation advise.

Perhaps you know a group of farmers who might like to form a co- op and be involved in a plant as well. Are you are Farmer Yourself?

please see more here- by Clicking on The AFIC web page and click on Halal Kind Meats. AFIC Are The Muslim Leaders of Australia- Australian Federational Of Islamic council who are leading the way in both Halal meats and humane treatment of livestock.

http://www.afic.com.au/

Good news for WA abattiors. Unfortunately though, as one door opens another closes. An abattior in QLD has just closed its doors and I believe is up for sale. Heres a plan: why doesnt halalkindmeats put their money were thier mouth is and buy it?

No need to build anything new, its just sitting there waiting for a buyer and so close to home wendy, maybe you could manage the whole operation :)

AFIC are a NFP Organisation who also are Halal Meat Accreditation Authoritys. They themselves will not be purchasing plants at this stage.
After saying that we have contacts with all types of people interested in plants and other ventures. Thats where we all come together and work towards this goal to increase slaughter in Australia.
What type of plant is it PF?
Is it already Halal accredited- or should I say was it?
Did it run domestic or Overseas would you know?
Its not Coominya is it? Because thats been sold to a group from Korea.
Always interested in plants and `especially supply`[ FARMERS}.
If you can let us know which plant we would appreciate it.
Our Halal QLD Halal Rep Fazel is away at the moment. I would need you to let us know the operation and the capasity if you know.
Thank You PF Appreciate it

Its actually not so breaking news. The meat processors haven't even
read it yet, so it remains to be seen what it contains, conditions
etc. Could be anything. Could be useless in practical terms.

You say you want sheep. I offered you a couple of hundred lambs
for November. You had nobody to buy them, so off to the Middle
East they go as Hajj lambs, at three times the price that local
processors would pay for the same grade. The contract is signed!

Its all dreams there Wendy, it really is. When did you last actually
sell one kg of meat? Anything at all concrete and real, apart from
a bit of paperwork?

Yabby- You told me [and again risk breaking a confidence `I Suppose`] that you were breeding a new breed and you were experimenting with that breed. You were breeding them especially Hajj Lambs. Ok you get three times as much as Rodger pays. I get that.

Just think what the other bloke makes? The ME buyer. Now imagine the profit for the farmers smart enough to arrange a co op Halal Slaughter near by and include value adding of small goods. Your still earning peanuts compared with the ME buyer.
What do you think he buys them for? To loose money? I don’t think so. They make plenty don’t you worry about that. They know what their customers will pay.

You also stated some of your neighbors had shown interest.
If you wanted to start a farmer’s co op of supply then we would have been “very” interested.

We need a large supply to warrant constructing a plant or re opening one. We have to ensure supply of high demands. You would be aware contracts must be signed and once signed met. We can’t be able to supply one month and short the next. I know you understand this.


What I offered was yourself and any other farmers you knew personal introductions with overseas buyers- direct- without a middle man. Also you act as an agent.
That was then and still is the only way farmers are going to pick up the difference in price that you all require. Clearly neither you nor the other farmers are going to sell for less than they can get on live exports. Just as clearly in order to be compensated we need to deal direct and make all of you a much better offer with a much better future.
It’s a life style change Yabby. Its farmers dealing direct. Farmers [some] also become suppliers and joint red meat exporters.

Smart farmers will round up their buddies and work together. Some will start co opss. The smart ones. I am sorry I did not realize you were offering your sheep at the time.

Wendy, I don't think you understand the Hajj lamb trade. Its a
religious festival, millions of pilgrims go to Mecca. They have
built huge feedlots to hold lambs, sheep, goats, camels, cattle.
Then they built huge abattoirs to slaughter them, the meat goes
to the poor.

Pilgrims pay to have the lambs slaughtered in their name, its
part of their pilgrimage. When its done, they are informed
personally. I know what pilgrims pay, its on Arab News lol.
If you cost the whole thing out, it covers all costs, nobody
makes big quids. Its organised by the Saudi authorities.
They have livestock from Sudan, China, Europe, you name it.

Thats quite a different market to the meat trade, where
Aussie and NZ processors try to outbid each other to sell
cheaper then the next guy. So they outbid each other down,
thats a large part of the problem. Large meat buyers in the ME
simply
stand back and buy their meat cheaper and cheaper

24 February 2006
Australian Muslims Are Against Animal Cruelty

The President of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, Dr. Ameer Ali
today called on the Australian media not to act irresponsible in misinforming the
Australian public about the real reasons for live exports.

Dr. Ameer Ali said that Muslims are primarily concerned to ensure that the animal is slaughtered in accordance with the Islamic Shariah, and that can be done in Australia under the Australian Government supervised Muslim Slaughter Program (AGSMS) and we want the Australian public to know that we do not agree to animal cruelty.

He further said that Muslims in the Middle Eastern countries readily accept
Frozen and chilled lamb and mutton from Australia, once it is Halal certified
under the program. Last year Australian lamb meat exports to the Middle East was up 36% to a record of 14,052 tonnes, and Australian mutton meat export to the Middle East was up 24% in the same period to 36,051 Tonnes (ref. Farmonline News 1 Feb 2006). This represents the equivalent of more than 2 million sheep which were slaughtered in Australia for Middle Eastern Muslim customers.

Dr. Ali said that the Australian Muslims does not support the cruel treatment of animals prior to slaughter, that has been documented in Egypt as the Qur`an dictates that animals should be treated with kindness.

Dr. Ameer Ali, President
Dr. Munir Hussain, Chairman, Halal Committee

Wendy, I know that you think that Dr Ali is wonderful, but I remind
you that he is not the Mufti of Mecca. Islam is a diversified
religion, with diversified opinions.

Mecca is the home of Islam, so perhaps best that the Saudi Arabians
decide what animals they require, for their religious festival.
How many they have locally and how many are imported, is once
again up to them, not up to you. They would actually know more
about these things then you would.

Given that these animals are these days transported in ever improving
ships, slaughtered in ever improving abattoirs, I really don't see
where you have a problem

Well Yabby
I know this will come as a huge surprise to you but we do know a bit about the trade. We also know how those animals are treated.
Another thing Yabby I dont care what you think because your not even involved in the trade. You are not even fully informed and its just getting a bore. You are not doing anything yourself to reopen plants.
You seem to have a problem that we are.
It doesnt matter what anybody posts either you just ignore their comments.
You KEEP saying things have changed and thats bull.
Even after Animals Australia aired the footage a few short months ago you are saying ah yeh it used to be like that but its all fixed now.
Well Yabby when we are ready we will post ongoing footage taken over a long period of time.
Very up to date footage.
Tell you what Yabby. You keep breeding animals to send live and promoting the cruel live trade.
Thats your thing go for it.
We will do our thing with the Muslim Leaders of Australia and the many other people we work with.

I dont mind you hold a different opinion to us but I do mind utter arrogance and the fact you dont even read Nickys comments or ours before replying.
That just a waste of my time Yabby and Nickys also.

I dont know about her but unless you can have the manners to follow the debate and respond to it i see no point to contiune exchanging comments with you.
Sorry Yabbs but your arrogance of just ignoring what others have said is getting too much of a bore.