Maria and Gerhard Baden’s dream of providing a better end-to-end experience for their Waygu cattle has become a reality, with the long-awaited approval of a small on-farm abattoir. The facility is set to offer a more thoughtful and less stressful approach to meat processing, reflecting the couple’s commitment to the welfare of their animals.

The Badens believe every step of an animal’s life matters, including the final moments. By keeping cattle in the calm and familiar setting of their own farm for processing, the potential stresses of transport and unfamiliar environments are avoided. 

“Our goal was simple,” Mr Baden said. “Rather than stress our animals by transporting them from our farm near Gerringong to Picton Abattoir, we wanted to establish a walk-in micro-abattoir onsite to process just two or three of our animals a week.”

Reaching this point has not been easy. Over the past decade, the project faced numerous challenges, from navigating and meeting regulatory requirements to addressing community concerns. However, the Baden’s commitment to their vision has now been rewarded, with approval granted for the facility to begin operations. 

“When I purchased the farm in 2006, I was full of energy and optimism to make this farm work,” Mr Baden said. “People should know that we have invested tens of millions of dollars and are contributing an average of $1.6 million a year into the local economy.”

Mr Baden said the realities of farming sometimes included “minor inconveniences that have to be taken into account, such as liming the fields once every seven years or the smell when we spread our animals’ manure”. 

“The beautiful green hills you are looking at take work and money to be maintained,” he said. “That’s farming! People who say they want to keep the green hills and local farming need to understand these facts.” With the abattoir ready to open, the Badens are eager to demonstrate how thoughtful approaches to farming can make a difference. “We look after our land because we depend on it,” Mr Baden said. This facility is not just about meat production—it’s about honouring the care that goes into raising livestock and ensuring their lives are valued from start to finish.

The Bugle looks forward to following this journey.