Abattoir closure threat

FALLING THROUGHPUT, increased costs and cheap carcass imports could prompt a further sharp decline in the number of small pig abattoirs in the UK.

Meat and Livestock Commission statistics show there are now less than 200 UK abattoirs slaughtering pigs compared with 450 in 1993.

The five largest pig slaughterers now account for almost 50% of total UK throughput at a time when the domestic herd continues to fall.

The 2004 year-end census of 476,000 breeding stock is down by 7.4% on the previous year.

And reports of more producers quitting the industry mean the June interim census figures are expected to show further reductions in the size of the UK breeding herd.

Though UK pig numbers are falling, herd sizes continue to grow, and a smaller number of large scale operators now control the bulk of UK pigmeat output.

They tend to favour heavy bacon pig production, raising average carcass weights from 66kg to 74kg over the past twelve years.

Some 21% of carcasses now weigh over 80kg, compared with 7% five years earlier, and lighter weights suitable for the fresh meat market are becoming scarce.

At the same time, small abattoirs are facing further challenges from the Food Standards Agency’s inflexible interpretation of recent EU regulations.

This has provoked an appeal to Brussels by the Forum of Private Business, complaining the FSA’s new rulings on building modifications are out of reach of small abattoirs.

The Forum claims 37% of the remaining small abattoirs in England will be severely affected by the new regulations, with 16% at high risk of closure.

For farmers, it would mean a further lack of competition in the valuable sector of the market.