“The last day receiving animals will be the 12th of October. We will be closing on the 26th of October,” said company CEO and general manager Jim Bradley. “In its peak running time, we had over 1,000 cattle a year. We’re down now to likely around 400 this year. We are down over 60 per cent from its prime numbers. When you take that out of the operation it just doesn’t become viable anymore.”
Amalgamated Dairies Ltd. purchased the abattoir, located alongside its dairy on Greenwood Drive, in 1993 from Farm Enterprises Inc.
“We would have used them to supply meat to various operations through out ADL Foods Distribution or we sold the product over the counter to anyone who came in to buy steaks or hamburger,” said Bradley. “We’ll still be distributing meat. We’ll just be sourcing it from other operations.”
The facility was also used by small farm operators who would take their animals in to be killed and processed, using the meat for their own consumption or for sale.
“There were a number of people who used it to either sell one or any number that they wanted to,” said Bradley. “We had people who used the facility for custom work as well. They would sell beef or a quarter of beef to their neighbour come in to process it at the facility.”
The abattoir processed mostly cattle although a small number of hogs went through the facility each year, he added.
He wouldn’t comment on the company’s plans for the building.
“It’s a little early at this time to say. There are various options available that we are looking at.”
The abattoir employs three people.
“We are doing what we can internally to look after those positions.”
The nearest abattoir — MacQuarrie’s Meats — is located in Winsloe.
“MacQuarrie’s has offered to look after any animals that our previous clientele had. The need will still be filled and the service will still be available.”
Journal Pioneer
