Medium-sized abattoirs risk
Medium-sized abattoirs risk
THE future of medium-sized abattoirs is as much under threat from excessive Meat Hygiene Service inspection fees as the small ones, and without them the beef industry could collapse, says Bill Harper, chairman of the National Beef Associations south west region.
Speaking at a Practice into Profit beef event at North Wyke, Devon, he said 21 giant abattoirs accounted for about half the UKs annual cattle kill and the small ones only about one percent of the total. The medium-sized ones killed the rest – about 900,000 cattle a year.
Those medium abattoirs also increased the range of buyers available to producers – and, therefore, the chance of better prices – and were essential for successful development of regional branding schemes.
Mr Harper said: "They are the only bridge between farmers and millions of consumers and it is a scandal that their contribution is so poorly appreciated by policy makers and industry commentators." *