Support Ethical Producers

The Murray Plains Meat Cooperative is a farmer-owned organisation, established in 2019 by a dedicated group of farmers in the Barham region. Our mission is to provide much-needed livestock processing options for the Central Murray district, supporting small-scale farmers who are passionate about ethical, paddock-to-plate farming.

In 2023, we proudly completed the construction of our multi-species Barham micro-abattoir with government funding. This facility is designed to process chickens, ducks, goats, lambs, pigs, and beef with a capacity of up to 720 tonnes of meat per year. We will eventually offer livestock processing, butchering, distribution, and marketing support to small-scale farmers, local butchers, and home-kill customers.

Our Vision

Our cooperative is built on values of transparency, ethical treatment of animals and humans, and a commitment to quality. By supporting local farmers, we ensure control over prices and supply chains while making a stronger connection between producers and consumers.

The Challenge

While the construction of our facility was funded, we now face the challenge of scaling operations to meet the growing demand for small-scale processing. To do this, we need to transition our current part-time staff, to full-time roles.

Currently, our Operations Manager works just two days per week. With sufficient funding, we can expand this position to full time and hire additional team members, creating up to eight permanent jobs in our local community. This investment will allow us to:

• Operate the facility at full capacity.

• Expand our processing capabilities to include all species.

• Provide secure processing options for local farmers

Why We Need Your Support

The Cooperative is a community-driven initiative built by farmers, for farmers. Every donation contributes to a future where small-scale, ethical farming are supported. By supporting the Murray Plains Meat Cooperative, you’re donating to:

• A local, farmer-owned cooperative.

• Ethical, sustainable food systems.

• Greater food security and transparency.

• Support of small farmers to bring homegrown produce to market.