Wednesday, 15 April 2020 10:22

COVID-19: More meat processing delays

Written by  Peter Burke
The COVID-19 meat processing protocol has reduced the industry’s processing capacity by approximately 50% for sheep and 30% for cattle. The COVID-19 meat processing protocol has reduced the industry’s processing capacity by approximately 50% for sheep and 30% for cattle.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (BLNZ) and the Meat Industry Association (MIA) have released their latest assessment of processing capacity across the country.

The assessment also reveals the potential impact on waiting times for farmers due to COVID-19.

The COVID-19 meat processing protocol, which requires physical distancing between plant employees to prevent the spread of the virus, has reduced the industry’s processing capacity by approximately 50% for sheep and 30% for cattle.

• The assessment shows further delays in lamb processing in the South Island in April and May with processing being pushed back at least a further week. In essence, if farmers were expecting a four-week wait before the protocol, that would now be stretched to five weeks.

• By the end of May that extra week backlog should be cleared. In the North Island, the analysis does not forecast further delays on top of what farmers are currently experiencing.

• Lambs are being prioritised over cull ewes and farmer commentary is that significant backlogs on ewes also exist.

BLNZ and MIA say this is causing concern, particularly for those in drought areas with backlogs and also in the southern South Island – where there are longer waits, more stock on-farm than desirable and the grass growth season window rapidly closing. 

B+LNZ’s Sam McIvor says the sector is aware there are already significant waits for some farmers.  

“What this analysis sought to identify is what difference the processing reduction would make to that wait and the knock-on effects across species and islands.”

MIA’s Sirma Karapeeva says it is still early days with the new protocols, so the capacity figures may change. 

She says processors and their people are bedding in the new way of working and are looking at ways to optimise their processing operations over the coming weeks to better manage demand.

“The meat processing sector is working with MPI to see whether there are science-supported changes that could be made to the protocol, particularly as we look out to Alert Level 3, that would allow an increase in throughput, while not compromising the safety of our people in any way,” she says.

More like this

M.I.A.

OPINION: The previous government spent too much during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite warnings from officials, according to a briefing released by the Treasury.

Gaslight much?

OPINION: Labour leader Chris 'Chippy' Hipkins is carrying on the world-class gaslighting of the nation that he and his cohorts started after their disastrous Covid response; now trying to undermine the Covid inquiry to protect his own backside.

Sorry, not sorry

OPINION: Did former PM Jacinda Ardern get fawning reviews for her book?

Autumn sub clover control sets up pasture for spring

Recent widespread autumn rain will have triggered the germination of subterranean clover seeds, and the resulting seedlings should be allowed to reach the 3–4 trifoliate leaf stage before grazing, says Beef+Lamb NZ.

Featured

B+LNZ launches AI assistant for farmers

Beef + Lamb New Zealand has launched an AI-powered digital assistant to help farmers using the B+LNZ Knowledge Hub to create tailored answers and resources for their farming businesses.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

A step too far

OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…

Save us from SAFE

OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter