Farmers are being asked to complete a survey regarding their use of abattoirs, and the importance of an abattoir for their business.
The survey from the Sustainable Food Trust (SFT), aims to gather evidence to show the role that smaller local abattoirs play, and in particular how abattoir closures have impacted farmers.
SFT said that the survey followed a call for evidence from the Food Standards Authority (FSA) last September, regarding the small abattoir discount on meat inspection charges, with a more in-depth review currently being carried out.
Christopher Price, chief executive of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, said: “A sustainable livestock sector depends on there being a network of local abattoirs capable of processing a diverse range of species and breeds to meet the farmers’ needs.
“There is little point in government claiming to support farming, particularly in some of our most marginal areas in which extensive livestock farming is the only option, if it removes or significantly reduces the small abattoir discount which will inevitably result in the destruction of a significant part of the small abattoir sector.”
According to the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers, 40% of small-medium sized abattoirs would close without the discount.
SFT also stated that the survey follows growing concern by small abattoirs that the current discount, which represents up to 90% of charges for some abattoirs, could be under threat.
The Abattoir Sector Group was established in 2020 to provide a unified voice for the small and local abattoir sector.
Farming groups that are members of the Abattoir Sector Group are looking to build evidence and case studies to present to the government on why the sector needs continuing support, the SFT said.
Megan Perry, head of policy and campaigns at the Sustainable Food Trust said: “From our initial research it is clear that losing these services could have a devastating impact for local meat businesses and sustainable livestock farming.
“Abattoirs have already declined from 2,500 in the 1970s to just 200 today and further closures will leave farmers with nowhere to go.”
The survey will close on Friday, March 21 and can be accessed on the SFT’s website.
