Protesters didn't attend North East abattoirs and farms during major protests across the country on Monday, but sites in the region have previously been targeted.

Many were reluctant to comment to The Border Mail with fears the vegan activists would turn on them.

The Benalla abattoir has often been a target, with a hidden GoPro recently found in the facility and handed over to police.

Owner Colin Sinclair is implementing security upgrades at the site.

"I don't think it's pleasant for anyone," he said.

"It's not good having people put in cameras.

"If I come into your house, I'd get done for trespass.

"These people who walk onto abattoir lands, they don't get charged with trespass ... it's terrible."

Police last month released images of masked men as they investigated a break-in.

One piggery operator, who asked to remain anonymous, said they were more vigilant and had a "heightened awareness" of protesters.

Since the publication of the Aussie Farms map detailing personal information, the operator said "all producers and processors are on heightened awareness".

"I think the right for everyone to protest is a good right," he said.

"When they chose to trespass and if they chose to prohibit people from doing their work and stop their business from operating, they've gone a step too far.

"I get to go home every night.

"But family farmers, they're quite worried about it.

"They live on their properties and have got kids running around.

"They're the ones feeling a bit violated by this map and everything else."

The operator said the pork industry was a particular focus of activists.

"I know just about every pig farm in the country has been infiltrated at some point," he said.

"They're trying to impose their views on others.

"I'm not going to say people are wrong by choosing to be vegan or vegetarian, it's more that they're telling me that I should be."

The operators of the Wangaratta abattoir installed cameras after a previous incident where intruders entered the facility, but they haven't had to implement recent changes.

Cool Off founder Simon Straughton said he hadn't changed security.

"But I guess we're all aware that these people can come up anywhere," he said.

Other businesses have also upgraded security but said they didn't want to comment.

The federal government promised tougher sanctions to protect farmers and primary producers against animal activists disclosing their personal information online, to be used for trespassing, if re-elected.

Victorian police officers charged 40 people, including two teenagers, with 122 offences following Monday's protests in Melbourne.