TQM breaks weekly processing record

Tasmanian Quality Meats has broken its weekly record for sheep and lamb processing.

The company recently processed more than 21,000 lambs and sheep in a single week.

But TQM’s northern livestock buyer, Corey Spencer, said staff did not have much time to celebrate the achievement, as processing demand remained high.

“We’ve done a lot of work on improving our relationship with livestock agents and farmers,” Mr Spencer said.

“That’s allowed us to invest in the plant and get it to a stage where it can handle those sorts of numbers.

“We didn’t just wake up one day and say ‘we might get to 21,000 lambs and sheep’.

“It’s been a gradual build-up over the years.”

Mr Spencer said he expected processing numbers to remain high for the next month before plateauing or dropping off.

“This is the peak time of year for processing.

“I don’t think we’ll be doing these numbers for long, but we’re just trying to make the most of the opportunity.”

TQM sends its meat to the US, China and the Middle East.

“This abattoir is pretty important to Tasmania and it underpins the state’s sheep industry,” Mr Spencer said.

“Without it, we’d be reliant on mainland abattoirs to process all the stock and everything would be shipped out of the state.

“It’s pretty important that we keep getting support and keep our abattoir running as efficiently and full as possible.”

TasFarmers Red Meat and Wool Committee chair George Shea said TQM’s processing numbers were dependent on factors such as weather.

“If it stays really hot, heatwaves continue and we don’t get a reasonable break early in the autumn, I think there will be big numbers for a while yet,” Mr Shea said.

“But I don’t think there is a huge oversupply of numbers.

“Somewhere along the line, it will flatten out.”

Mr Shea said that TQM’s processing numbers being so high was a positive.

“It keeps sheep local, it keeps people employed, and it’s all positive for the sheep industry in Tasmania.”