Abattoirs

Head of news and business Alex Black takes a look at why small abattoirs are crucial for business

Farmers in Wales said their businesses are in a 'precarious position' due to declining abattoir infrastructure

It said a review had concluded closure was necessary to protect the long-term future of the business

Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick has warned of the impact of losing small abattoirs on rural economies and animal welfare

Horsham MP John Milne said Gov needs to recognise the importance of abattoirs as 'critical local infrastructure' for farmers and rural communities

UK sheepmeat production is forecast to grow by 2% in 2025, largely supported by a ‘higher carryover of lambs from 2024', according to AHDB analysis

In today's Farming in Five, chief reporter Rachael Brown summarise the farmers' protest in Whitehall and concerns raised by some Labour backbencher MPs in yesterday's Westminster Hall debate, proposals for a new state-of-the-art abattoir in Orkney backed by Scotland's First Minister John Swinney, and new reward points being offered to potato growers who can an demonstrate best application practice at planting when using Nemathorin to manage key soil pests

Scotland's First Minister John Swinney has backed proposals for a new state-of-the-art abattoir in Orkney

A NFU survey of 545 livestock farmers in the South East found if there were further closures to local abattoirs, 49% of respondents said they would either have to reduce their stocking levels, stop keeping livestock or cease trading

FSA charges are currently discounted according to the number of hours involved so that smaller abattoir businesses, which require fewer hours regulation, receive a greater discount