ONE of southern Australia's largest feedlots and meat exporters is slashing throughput and jobs in a bid to survive the global financial crisis.
Riverina beef exporter, feedlot and abattoir Rockdale Beef last week announced it would cut 150 jobs and slash its beef throughput by 40 per cent due to weakened demand from major international buyers of grain-fed products.
Citing on-going drought and the global financial crisis as reasons for the cutbacks, general manager Paul Troja said the company would respond by restructuring its abattoir operation.
Rockdale Beef has operated near Yanco for almost 20 years, supporting the economies of Leeton, Narrandera and Wagga Wagga, through its business and by providing employment.
The feedlot also sources cattle from breeders and saleyards across southern Australia.
"We have a skilled and dedicated workforce," Mr Troja said.
"But in the current, difficult environment, we need to act to protect the business."
"We are charting a course for the company to quickly recover when the current global crisis eases," he said.
The news comes as the feedlot industry has struggled for years, in the face of high grain prices, and now the financial downturn.
The latest quarterly survey, conducted by the Australian Lot Feeders Association, showed a further 10 per cent drop in the number of cattle now on-feed, during the quarter from December to March.
The sector has been in decline since 2006.
