Homekill, the slaughtering and butchering of your own animals, either by yourself or by a listed homekill and recreational catch services provider, and for your own use or consumption, is controlled by provisions of the Animal Products Act 1999. Those affected by the legislation are animal owners seeking to slaughter their own animals, hunters and fishermen, those offering slaughter, dressing and butchering services, and butchers themselves.
Murray Trewavas is registered with MAF as a Homekill/Recreational Catch Service Provider and has over 35 years experience in the butchering trade. After serving his appenticeship in retail meat at Nelson Freezing Company outlet shops, he has worked at Invercargill City Abattoir, Alliance Freezing Company and the Motueka Abattoir. After a break of several years, managing the Tahuna Family Home he has returned to the butchery service trade, operating out of a base at Appleby. Travelling as far as Golden Bay, Murchison and to the Rai Valley, he offers a full butchering service for all livestock.
They operate a small truck with Hiab, with a chilled trailer for transporting, and Murray described how hygiene and professionalism are as important as the humane aspect. "There are some cowboys out there, but as an industry it's moving towards more professionalism. We have our own association, organisation and standards and ultimately it's going to come down those who are part of that organisation who are going to be approved, and those that aren't are going to be the backyarders - that's going to be the difference."
Murray and his partner Arthur Crimp utilise a TDC registered processing facility, purpose built five years ago for emu's and ostriches, near Appleby. "The beauty of this set up is that it's ideal for the job, you wouldn't normally spend the money to set this up especially for homekill, and it's a huge asset for the job," Arthur explained. And Murray added, "regulations for killing and processing are becoming more stringent - it's going to focus more on units like this, that's the way MAF is heading at the moment. The TDC has waste management issues that will create another issue for small farmers."
A wide range of animals can be processed at the facility, beef, sheep, pigs, deer, goats, Llamas, emu, ostriches, chickens and ducks, "I've even been asked to smoke some trout," laughed Murray, "and I'll do that too."
They estimate that there is probably only 50-80 emu's left in the top of the South Island having killed over 200 emu and nearly 50 ostriches in the past few months. Last week they were handling some sizable breeding ostriches. Noting that breeders and exporters that remain in Canterbury, are becoming more specialised, building around export markets and producing birds to their (exporters) requirements.
"The pelt is the most valuable thing at around $250 and that's why they are killed, the meat is a product we just try to do what we can with at the moment, which isn't much" Murray said.
The skins produce very soft high quality leather, used in sports cars for dashboards and seats, and within the garment industry. "They love the dimpled look from where the feathers are. Especially for purses, bags and shoes, for a soft hard wearing leather with a different look."
As a listed recreational catch service provider, Murray is licensed to process wild game and make bacon, ham or sausages for recreational hunters. "Before long, all hunters are going to have to have their meat processed at a centralised unit. Right now if you shoot a deer or pig in the hills, we are licensed to process that catch, you can't just take it to any butchershop. They require a separate unit to process wild game away from the domestic and commercial animals, which is not an issue for us because we don't sell or buy anything, we are processors."
