Consumers and farmers can tap on to the Fiji Meat Industry Board (FMIB) to buy and have their livestock slaughtered.
FMIB is committed to provide slaughtering and processing services in facilities that are annually checked for safety, hygiene, and quality by the Ministry of Health. The Nasinu abattoir is also halal certified by the Fiji Muslim League with the Vuda abattoir nearing halal certification as well.
Chief executive officer Mr Naca Yalimaitoga said animals for slaughtering should be brought one day in advance to let them rest before slaughter and to avoid any possible adverse effect on the quality of meat.
“Slaughtering at FMIB is done from Monday to Wednesday every week,” said Mr Yalimaitoga.
“Farmers bring in their livestock and it is slaughtered, cleaned and inspected by the meat inspectors from the Department of Agriculture to ensure that all meat leaving the abattoir is safe for human consumption. Farmers are paid according to the dressed weight of the carcass with carcass weighing handled by Meat Inspectors as well.”
“Cattle are sourced from all over Fiji. Farmers wishing to sell their cattle can contact FMIB and if a farmer wishes to sell more than eight cattle at any one time, FMIB subsidises transport where the farmer pays only half of the transportation cost.”
The FMIB buys first grade cattle at $3.70 a kilogram, second grade at $3.50 per kg and third grade at $2.90 a kg.
“FMIB slaughters and delivers the carcass for three commercial pig farms, Leylands, Whaley’s and Vuda Piggery in the West. We also provide the same service to private individuals. All those that use the abattoir services are required to pay slaughter fees to FMIB and this is our main income source. The slaughter fees is $0.38 a kg for cattle and $0.56 per kg for pigs,” said Mr Yalimaitoga.
“Smallholder farmers can also sell their cattle or pigs to FMIB and in such cases FMIB is responsible for the slaughter fees,” he added.
“In September this year FMIB had contracted 23 pig farmers from Tailevu, Naitasiri and Rewa where the farmers take feed meal on credit with feed meal comprised of meat and fish meal as well as millmix. When the pigs reach saleable weight, the farmers sell them back to FMIB, the cost of the feed is deducted before the farmers are paid the balance and the process continues,” said Mr Yalimaitoga.
Mr Yalimaitoga added that these contracted farmers had to ensure consistent supply and quality of meat. FMIB has recommended them to raise Landrace and Duroc breeds which are fed on feed supplied by FMIB as well to ensure better meat quality.
Landrace breed has good maternal performance and excellent litter size and the Duroc exceeds all other breeds in muscle quality and has the lowest incidence of stress mortality. Duroc adapts to varied environment, and withstands tropical conditions.
Last year FMIB slaughtered and sold 350 pigs in December alone and this year they need at least 400 pigs for Christmas and New Year to meet the demand from consumers. FMIB pays a premium price of $6 per kg for dressed weights between 31 to 50kg.
“FMIB has its own magiti section where beef and pork carcasses as well as pieces are sold direct to customers who can place their orders with the magiti staff. This way you are assured that you will get the beef or pork that you want as we have not been able to meet all customers’ demands particularly at this time,” said Mr Yalimaitoga.
“Farmers and consumers are also advised not to do backyard slaughtering as you never know whether the meat you are buying is safe to eat.”
“At FMIB about two to three cattle are condemned every month due to diseases. To ensure that the meat is safe to eat, farmers should have it slaughtered at the abattoirs where slaughter is done safely and hygienically and meat is inspected by qualified meat inspectors.”
“Farmers in the West can take their cattle and pigs to Vuda abattoir for slaughter while the farmers in the Central Division can go to the Nasinu abattoir,” Mr Yalimaitoga said.
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