Carey Brothers abattoir at Yangan is the recipient of a state government funding grant to enable the processing of cattle hides.
Queensland Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said the abattoir is “one of 14 businesses in Queensland to receive Rural Economic Development (RED) Grant of up to $250,000 to fund the expansion of their business”.
“Carey Brothers is a family owned business that’s been operating for over 75 years,” Mr Furner said in a statement released today, Friday 29 May.
“Currently cattle hides are sold to the overseas leather market largely in Asia, however market demand has severely diminished due to the cheaper synthetic leather products.
“This funding will allow the business to upgrade their abattoir infrastructure by purchasing a specially designed large batch cooker.
“We know the COVID-19 pandemic has made it tough for a lot of businesses and communities, so these additional jobs will be most welcome.
“The pressurised by-product batch cooker will allow Carey Brothers to repurpose the oversupply of cattle hides into meat meal protein for pigs and poultry and tallow.
“The installation of the pressurised batch cooker and throughput increases will create up to 16 full time employment opportunities directly and indirectly in the Southern Downs region.”
Director Mark Carey said in the statement the company currently receives nothing for their hides and has to pay to have hides freighted to Brisbane, so the new cooker will be more cost efficient for the abattoir.
“The demand for cattle hides has changed drastically in the past three years and the purchase of a larger batch cooker will allow us to efficiently cook the hides to produce these by-products,” he said.
Mr Furner said the Rural Economic Development (RED) Grants program offers emerging projects up to $250,000 in co-contributions.
“The $10 million grants program provides for three funding rounds over a three-year period ending 2021,” he said.
“Funding for Round 3 of the RED Grants will be announced later this year.”
For more information about the RED Grant scheme visit www.qrida.qld.gov.au
Also receiving funding under the program is poultry producer Inglewood Organic which will benefit from up to $250,000 to establish their own certified organic grain production.
“Inglewood Organic will utilise existing land by setting up centre pivot irrigation systems and exclusion fencing to ensure grain is available not just during hard times but all year round,” Mr Furner said.
“The funding will help the development of broad-acre irrigated organic crops to boost their own supply of organic stockfeed for their poultry business.
“The project is expected to generate eight jobs directly and five jobs indirectly during the project phase.”
