Countryside Alliance welcomes aid for small abattoirs

The Countryside Alliance has welcomed government plans to introduce funding for small abattoirs in the UK, having long campaigned on the issue.

The new funding package, which will be announced in full later this year, will help those abattoirs to add value by supporting the availability of local produce.

The money will provide specific equipment to support the rearing of rare and native breeds, encouraging rural employment and safeguarding the food supply chain through a diverse and productive abattoir sector.

There has been a huge decline in small abattoirs in recent years, with the most recent estimates showing only 49 remain in England, Wales and Scotland.

If closures continued at the current rate, none would be operating by 2030, according to the Sustainable Food Trust.

At the NFU Conference, Minister Spencer said: "If farming is to flourish then we need to get the fundamentals right - abattoirs are key to the food supply chain and there is clearly a need to support smaller providers in this area.

"The availability of funding will help abattoirs to invest in new technology and improve productivity and animal health and welfare, allowing our agriculture sector to get its high-quality produce to market."

Sarah Lee, Director of Policy at the Countryside Alliance said: "The Countryside Alliance welcomes this announcement from Mark Spencer. We have long campaigned for small abattoirs to get the recognition they deserve for the crucial role they play in the food supply chain. That role will only become more important if a ban on live animal exports is introduced. We cannot have a situation arise where livestock travel excessively long journeys here in the UK, if small abattoirs cannot be used for processing.

She added: " There is clearly a demand for local produce, but without a network of small abattoirs, UK livestock will still have to travel longer distances. When the purpose of wanting to end live exports is to reduce distress caused to animals, it seems wrong to ignore the reality we face in this country. We may well be in a situation where animals cannot be transported from Dover to Calais but they can be moved from Liverpool to Belfast. This would be illogical. The need for the government to invest in small abattoirs couldn't be more important."