Drought forces
month-long
shutdown Meatco announces longest closure ever Meatco''s Windhoek abattoir will be closed for a record 30 days during the festive season as a result of low cattle numbers and water shortages. Due to the challenges being experienced in the meat industry such as the low volumes of cattle being delivered for slaughtering, the prolonged drought of the past three years and the water shortages Meatco''s Windhoek abattoir will close for a month during the festive season. According to the company, abattoir operations will officially close on 16 December and resume on 16 January.
This is the longest period ever that the factory has been closed and requires that employees start slowly to get back into routine.
According to Meatco the last day for slaughtering is 7 December, followed by slaughters from the wholesale section and private Hartlief slaughters on 8 December 2016.
The deboning section will close on 9 December 2016, with the largest portion of production closing as from Monday 12 December. Dispatch and private chillers used to load carcasses slaughtered for the wholesale and other private clients will operate from 12 to 16 December.
“It should be noted that if animal availability increases in January 2017 and the need arises for operations to resume earlier than scheduled, Meatco will inform staff through the relevant radio services,” Johan Goosen, plant manager for Windhoek said.
In addition to the reopening of the different factory sections on 16 January next year, medical tests and induction training will take place until 18 January.
Cattle offloading for 2017 will resume on 18 January, with only 200 to 250 head of cattle expected due to the closure of the factory for five to six weeks
Slaughters will commence on 19 and 20 January, with the first deboning to commence on 23 January.
Because of the closure dates as stated above, producers are urged to contact their nearest livestock procurement office and confirm whether they have met the 90% delivery contract agreements in order to plan accordingly.
STAFF REPORTER