End to bespoke slaughtering service at Dardanup Butchering Company sparks concerns from small producers

The closure of a bespoke livestock slaughtering service near Bunbury augurs a major problem for gourmet producers across the Capes region. News broke this week that Dardanup Butchering Company will cease processing animals from small-scale livestock farmers with the refusal to provide “custom kills” sending the region’s boutique providers into a spin. Glenarty Road farm owners Ben and Sasha McDonald, from Karridale, said the news caught them by surprise and left them without options for their lambs and pigs. “Every fortnight for the last 17 years we have driven our truck up to Bunbury with one to two dozen lambs and a few pigs,” Mr McDonald posted on Instagram. “We originally supplied boutique butchers in Perth before we opened our restaurant in 2017.” Mr McDonald said he was desperately trying to find a solution. “There’s 24 staff in our business that are directly impacted,” he said. “There’s six chefs, front-of-house staff, gardeners. If we don’t have a protein source to serve to our customers (how can we continue)?” Koonac Goat Farm operator Andreas Frutiger said his Rosa Brook company was completely reliant on DBC slaughtering a small number of animals not needed for milk and cheese production. “The goats we sold as meat in the past had been slaughtered at DBC as custom kills, which was the only way for us to utilise our animals within the legal regulations,” he said. “Without being able to slaughter and process our animals, we will be forced to shut down our entire goat dairy business.” Dr Frutiger said he received reassurance in January that the custom service was not in trouble. “This change of the DBC management also affects a lot of other small farms in the South West, many of whom are committed to regenerative farming, environmental stewardship, animal welfare and soil health, and are dedicated to providing ethically raised, nutrient-dense food to our community.” Dr Frutiger said other operators could also be forced out of business and the lack of options put the sustainability of the region in doubt. DBC did not respond to Times inquiries, but in other media statements said constraints and increased demand meant the company had to prioritise long-term customers. The company did not respond to criticism that it owed smaller operators a lifeline after benefiting from a $750,000 State Government grant last year to help expand its capacity to slaughter pigs. WA Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis said DBC was not the only abattoir to win State funding. “My office reached out to DBC today to see if State Government support was required in the short term, however, they advised that this was a commercial decision,” she said. “The WA Meat Industry Authority stands ready to provide advice and support for any new abattoir looking to enter the market.” Meanwhile, member for Warren-Blackwood Jane Kelsbie acknowledged the change would “significantly impact” farmers in her electorate. “Many in our community rely on DBC for custom butchery and this presents a serious challenge,” she said. As well as raising concerns with Ms Jarvis, the local MP encouraged affected farmers to register their concerns with the WAMIA. “I’ve worked closely with local farmers since being elected, and earlier this year I hosted the minister in Denmark to meet with local producers, where we explored ideas for local services including a mobile abattoir,” Ms Kelsbie said. “These ideas are now more important than ever. “We remain committed to supporting our farmers and safeguarding local industries.” The Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance, which represents small and medium-scale farmers, said DBC’s decision mirrored a national trend of corporate consolidation. AFSA said the Agriculture Minister needed to steer development of micro abattoirs to support the sector as a matter of urgency.