Mobile abattoir: Primesafe grants Provenir first Victorian licence

Provenir has gained Victoria’s first licence to operate a mobile slaughter unit to process livestock on farms.

Provenir is a mobile abattoir and red meat company that is licenced to operate in Victoria and NSW.

VICTORIA’S first licenced mobile abattoir will roll into operation next week on a Bannockburn farm.

Red meat company Provenir has been granted a licence by Primesafe to operate its on-farm mobile slaughter unit in Victoria, after amendments to the Meat Industries Act last October paved the way for vehicles to be recognised as abattoirs.

Provenir co-founder and beef farmer Chris Balazs said the company was delighted to finally be able to process cattle in Victoria, after years of lobbying for regulatory changes.

Provenir co-founder Chris Balazs.

“It’s like crossing the line of the marathon,” said Mr Balazs, who first unveiled his mobile abattoir business plans to agriculture industry colleagues and politicians in 2017.

“It is something we have been working collectively on for the past seven years.

“We’ve had to change the laws, create a new licence category to be able to produce true provenance meat. For me personally, as a farmer, I know the difference in taste and quality of on-farm processed meat and now to be able to share that with consumers across the state is terribly exciting.”

Provenir will next week process about 15 head of cattle on Mr Balazs’ property, Sage Farm, in Golden Plains Shire.

The business has plans to expand operations to other farms in Hepburn, Colac-Otways and Mount Alexander.

Mr Balazs said the company had to satisfy regulators that the process met strict animal welfare standards and environmental conditions to gain its licence, and also notify local governments that it would be operating in the area.

“The councils are really supportive,” he said. "They see that it is good for local farmers, creates local jobs and showcases local food provenance.”

Provenir’s slaughter service launched in NSW in June last year, and has since been restricted to processing on NSW farms.

Provenir mobile abattoir on Gundillawah Farm, in the Mundarlo Valley of NSW.

The company uses an acquisition model, buying farmers’ livestock at point of slaughter to process and sell under its brand.

Carcasses are transported to a static processing facility in Victoria to be aged, butchered and packaged.

Provenir brand meat is sold through independent retailers and to chefs across Victoria.

“As well as the high welfare of the livestock, Provenir is focused on providing full traceability and true provenance. By processing on-farm and using the latest in digital traceability technology, we are able to provide full transparency and guaranteed provenance that is validated by the customer themselves.” Mr Balazs said.

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