08 Mar 2015

A new abattoir has opened in Palapye.

The medium throughput abattoir slaughters a maximum of 100 beasts per day compared to a slaughter slab, which slaughtered 15 animals per week.  Palapye had only six slaughter slabs, which slaughtered only three animals per day.

Jago Beef abattoir managing director, Mr Badiredi Phampa said in an interview that the abattoir started operating in December, providing service for butcheries in Palapye and surrounding areas.

He said the abattoir did not slaughter animals for individuals; rather it exists to provide service mainly to butcheries. Mr Phampa said the abattoir was in the process of recruiting meat inspectors, who would be appointed by the Department of Veterinary Service (DVS). 

In the meantime, meat inspectors from DVS provide that service for them. Furthermore, he said the maximum number of beasts slaughtered so far was 69, adding that the expectation was to slaughter 30 beasts per day.

He said on average the abattoir was slaughtering 25 beasts per day, adding that efforts are being made to intensify the marketing strategy and also to meet stakeholders. The abattoir employs 35 people.

In addition, he said the abattoir also provides carcass delivery service to butcheries at P75 per animaland P50 for two animals. 

 He urged butchers to make use of this facility.

Meat Industry committee chairperson, Mr Samuel Morake welcomed thenew development, saying butcheries would slaughter as many beasts as they could.

Mr Morake said there were over 45 butcheries in Palapye, as such a number of animals slaughtered at slaughter slabs could not meet the demand.

He noted that this could be the reason why the council, through Environmental Health unit often recorded cases of uninspected meat found in butcheries.

Mr Morake said even though the abattoir was open, there were butcheries that continued to sell uninspected meat to the community. He said DVS did not renew licenses for slaughter slabs at the end of the year after the abattoir opened, resulting in the closure of slaughter slabs.

The chairperson said his committee was never consulted about the decision taken to close all slaughter slabs, adding that this would result in monopoly. He said the abattoir was slaughtering animals at a higher price compared to slaughter slabs.

The abattoir charged P130 for slaughtering one animal and P75 for delivery while the slaughter slab charged P120 for slaughtering and did not charge transportation because butcheries had their own refrigerator trucks and transported for themselves.

However, Mr Phampa said the delivery service was only meant for butcheries which did not have refrigerator trucks. 

Efforts to contact Palapye police to confirm the number of uninspected meat cases were futile. ENDS