National Farmers’ Union Scotland (NFUS) has called for national carbon dioxide (CO2) supplies to be redirected to abattoirs in need to avoid animal welfare issues.
NFU Scotland’s pigs and poultry, and animal health and welfare policy manager Penny Middleton said: “The shortage of CO2 is having a critical impact on the slaughter of pigs and poultry, where gas stunning is the preferred method of slaughter for welfare reasons.
“The processing plant at Brechin has already announced that it will not be able to take any more pigs from today, a decision that will impact heavily on pig units reliant on being able to get pigs away.
“Any disruption to that flow can result in welfare issues and overcrowding.
“Given the expectation of animal welfare problems on pig and poultry units NFUS feels that it is vital that CO2 supplies are reserved and directed to those plants in need.”
Yesterday, a major Scottish abattoir had to close its production lines because it had run out of gas.
What caused the CO2 shortage?
The shortage is thought to have been caused by the closing of several fertiliser plants – which produce the gas as a by-product – across Europe at the same time.
The first of the plants to close closed for maintenance reasons. However, it was followed by a failure at an ammonia plant in Billington and an unplanned shutdown at another plant in Norway.
The trade journal Gas World said it was the “worst supply situation to hit the European carbon dioxide business in decades”.
Already, Tesco-owned retailer Booker has said it will restrict beer sales because the gas is also used to put the fizz in beverages. Coca-Cola also said it “paused” production on Monday because of the shortage.
CO2 is also used in packaging products such as crisps, chopped lettuce, salad leaves, minced meat, cooked fish and pre-baked products.
It also used to produce dry ice which is used in the transport of frozen supplies.
