Calling all Australians

[Bishop]

A question for any Australians on the Forum -

Are you aware of any supplier that sells Liquid Calf Rennet in bottles around the 200ml mark?

If nobody can come up with a supplier of small bottles, who would be interested in purchasing a 5Lt drum together and distributing it up between us.  I imagine we would need quite a few people involved.

[gemma.tyson]

Hi Bishop.
I know Mad Millie does 50ml bottles.  Otherwise a drum sounds like an awful lot. ^-^

[Gürkan Yeniçeri]

Cheeselinks use to sell but not now. The only producer who uses calf rennet in Australia (as far as I know) is Wagga Wagga Cheese Factory. Give a call to Barry Lillywhite on  02 69332170, he might be able to help you.

They are using this rennet I've attached.

OR

Make your own calf rennet. I have tried to source some abomasum with no lock unless you slaughter a kid or calf yourself and save the abomasum.

[Bishop]

Thanks Gemma and Gurkan,
          I cant see Calf rennet in the Australian section on Mad Millie, only in the US and NZ on-line store?  I have tried contacting a couple of NZ suppliers and dicussed additional shipping costs and they put me back onto cheeselinks which don't supply it (handy  ::))  I'll give Barry a call and see what he says.

Thanks again.

[gemma.tyson]

I'll check with my supply person as well.  Two heads are better than one.
Good luck

[silverjam]

I know this is a late post but did anyone have any luck with this (getting calf rennet in Australia)? I have also had two overseas suppliers tell me Customs will confiscate it even if they send calf rennet. I am thinking of trying to get a Customs permit to bring in some calf rennet. Even though I only need a small amount. Has anyone tried this?

[Gürkan Yeniçeri]

Hi Silverjam, welcome to the forum. I am in Canberra too.

Actually cheeselinks.com.au sells it on their commercial price list but it is 15L enough for 100K litres of milk.

If you get a permit, how does this work. Can you then order from overseas and display your permit at the customs?

I am seriously thinking of making my own rennet powder from kid or calf abomasum. It keeps in the freezer and have a longer life. The only problem is getting an abomasum  >:(

[silverjam]

Hi Gurkan,

I'm not sure even if I would get a permit as it may be denied anyway but I do know you can put in an application for a permit to import a restricted item to AQIS (Australian Quarantine Inspection Service). I had a look at it but they talk about $40 an hour to consider this and that so I think it is more aimed at professional importers where you get clearance for permanent importation. I guess the best way would be to call AQIS and try and get someone to assess if calf rennet is a risk item and if not then maybe they will give you clearance. I think it is all way too complicated.

I did get in contact with a few people with the only two suggestions in Australia as cheeselinks (everyones suggestion) and someone suggested the Wagga Wagga Cheese Co can help with calf rennet (this tip came from a small scale commercial cheese manufacturer). I haven't looked into that option yet as there doesn't seem to be any main webpage etc. Saved for a rainy day.

Also, I was in contact with Renco in NZ who produces the famous (everywhere except Australia) calf rennet. They have said "We do sell direct to commercial customers who are prepared to work through the importation process. We do not as yet have a retail outlet in Australia, but are working on this". Perhaps a viable market for the budding Australian importer.

Well... while I've given up, I will post any developments if I come up with an Australian 'non-commercial' quantity source.

[fied]

Just a thought: would any abbatoirs near you let you have some abomasum?

[Gürkan Yeniçeri]

...someone suggested the Wagga Wagga Cheese Co can help with calf rennet (this tip came from a small scale commercial cheese manufacturer). I haven't looked into that option yet as there doesn't seem to be any main webpage etc. Saved for a rainy day

Silverjam that was me, read the third post from the top. If we get together and ask Barry kindly, he may be sell it to us. In fact, I can e-mail him right now if everyone is OK with it. May be we can put like 4 orders for me, you, gemma and bishop.

The other option is to do a petition to Cheeselinks to force them sell small quantity bottles of calf rennet. But I don't think 4 signatures are enough  :o we need more people.

No wonder Australian cheese industry is struggling with no raw milk and no calf rennet rules.

Just a thought: would any abbatoirs near you let you have some abomasum?

Hi Fied, As far as I know, the internal organs are not even given to the owner of the animal. I am buying bulk meat from a farmer and requested an abomasum and he said it is hard to get one from the abbatoir.

[Melbourne Cheese]

I would be happy to be part of a petition to Cheeselinks to get calf rennet

[margaretsmall]

Me too.

[OzzieCheese]

me to...

[silverjam]

Gurkan et al,

Seems to be some interest :)

Just to clarify I actually got the details of wagga wagga cheese co from a tassie cheese maker, but after I posted I noted your post as well. Obviously you're in a far better position to contact Barry than I am. Interesting though that two suggestions point that way. I would be interested in price and quantity if that option is available. I really only need a small amount though.

Having said that, cheese links would be far easier if they were willing to sell retail quantities. I sent them a general email a week or so ago with no reply yet. I might just send them some of the views in this post unless anyone objects. I should note that we have provided enough advertising for them to owe us some retail quantity calf rennet!

I have been given two contact names at cheese links who I can try and contact more directly, unless anyone else has a source.

Silverjam

[Gürkan Yeniçeri]

I think we should all send an e-mail to cheeselinks and make them realise that calf rennet is something that people looking for.

info AT cheeselinks DOT com DOT au is the only e-mail I have.

Also I will ask Barry if he can sell it to us? Pricing, shipment etc.