Rivalea managing director Mick Hewat and director Kenton Shaw say staff and families have experienced physical, verbal and online abuse from activists.

In a joint submission to an inquiry into the impact of animal rights activism on Victorian agriculture, the pair say "illegal animal activism" poses a threat to staff, animals, the business and local communities.

Rivalea farms have been amongst those targeted.

The Benalla abattoir has been targeted by protesters on multiple occasions.

"Many of our people work after hours and reside on our properties with their families," they said.

"Our staff and families have the right to feel safe and free from confrontation and harassment from activist intruders.

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"Our staff have experienced abuse in the form of verbal, physical and online abuse whilst carrying out their day to day, lawful activities."

The public inquiry is examining issues with animal rights activism, looking at the criminal and civil liability of activists and impact on workplace health and safety.

Biosecurity risks are also being examined.

Law Institute of Victoria president Stuart Webb said there had been an increase in animal activist activity since mid-last year after the release of a documentary and launch of the Aussie Farms website.

The institute called for uniform national farm and animal welfare standards.

Mr Webb said increased transparency in the industry would reduce the motivation of activists to engage in vigilantism, with the introduction of CCTV cameras in slaughter areas a possible solution.

The Rivalea submission notes "illegally obtained footage" of all of the company's Victorian farms was online.

"Activists enter our farms uncontrolled and illegally, likely breaking all our biosecurity protocols in the process," the pair said.

"Trespass by activists onto our farms has the high potential to introduce diseases to the pigs."

United Dairyfarmers of Victoria president Paul Mumford said activists' actions "have become more brazen, disruptive and extreme" in recent years.

Members of animal rights group Aussie Farms have been vocal in their opposition to commercial meat production.

Executive director Chris Delfore defended the actions of activists as a way to end "commercialised animal abuse".

"Activists who enter farms to document and expose, rescue or protest, do so from a stance of total non-violence and indeed, a fundamental objection to the violence occurring unchecked within those facilities," he said.

Mr Delfore said "businesses in Australia do not have a legal right to privacy" but said activists did not have any interest in farmers' homes or families.

He claimed "there has not been a single incident of activists going anywhere near farmers' homes".

Public hearings have been held this week with further hearings scheduled.

A report is due to be handed down in February.