THE fledging camel industry will be given a boost if a Northern Territory abattoir opens at the end of the year as scheduled.
Processor and staunch industry advocate Ivan Coulter, Windy Hills Australian Game Meat, is focused on recommissioning a former beef plant at Batchelor to eventually handle 250 animals a day.
"The export market for camels is huge," he said.
"And the domestic market is rising on the back of larger Middle Eastern ethnic groups resident in Australia.
"We are trying to work in with the live export market and boxed meat trade."
The stockyards, races and interior have been changed to suit the dimensions and animal welfare requirements of camels.
Mr Coulter said about $2 million had already been spent with a further $6m earmarked to complete the renovations.
Camels are sourced from pastoral leases and Aboriginal communities, and the industry is providing indigenous employment opportunities.
Mr Coulter said the camel industry had improved with increased public awareness and a wider recognition of the role a viable meat industry played in the control of feral populations to benefit agriculture, the environment and provide employment opportunities in rural Australia.
The Batchelor abattoir will also process other free range animals, including goats and water buffalo.
Mr Coulter said while there was strong demand for camel meat, it was quite similar to the goat industry where demand exceeded supply. Both industries were making huge headways toward securing a more consistent supply.
Camel meat is slowly finding its way into high-end restaurants, along with other game meats, including goat and kangaroo.
Meanwhile, Peterborough abattoir has resumed processing camel meat with the Samex-owned plant turning over small numbers from the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands.
But construction has not yet started at the proposed camel abattoir at Warnertown, near Port Pirie.
The project stalled because of economic, social and political turmoil in Egypt, according to businessman Magdy El Ashram.
*Full report in Stock Journal, July 19 issue, 2012.
