The nine offenders - three men, one aged 46 and two aged 22, and six women, aged between 21 and 61 - entered the abattoir on Mazamat Road about 2.30am on April 8.

Some chained themselves to a conveyer. 

The protest appeared to be peaceful.

About 4am, officers from the Hume Police District were notified after the abattoir owner asked the protesters to leave, which they allegedly refused to do.

"We were first called by Southern Meats at 4.20am to attend due to reports of people trespassing," Police Inspector John Sheehan said.

"We attended and located nine people who had locked themselves onto one of the conveyor belts and who refused to leave after being requested to by police.

"They had chained themselves to the machinery using PVC piping. They were locked in. We called Police Rescue to remove them safely before they were arrested and charged."

The protest occurred before the processing plant went online at 5.45am.

Inspector Sheehan said all nine had received bail and would attend Goulburn Local Court at later dates in May.

He said three of the women were facing additional charges of resisting arrest. 

"These were the three women who refused to walk from the abattoir and had to be carried to the police vehicle," Inspector Sheehan said.

He said all nine were taken to Goulburn Police Station and charged. 

Inspector Sheehan said all but one of the protesters were from Sydney. A 61-year-old woman was from Canberra.