Welsh Government urged to act on massive loss of abattoirs
WALES' diminishing local abattoir infrastructure has been highlighted to the Welsh Government.
Several organisations, including the Farmers' Union of Wales have written to the Government raising the critical issue.
The letter, addressed to Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, has been co-signed by eight organisations, including Nature Friendly Farming Network, North Wales Wildlife Trust, Pasture for Life, Plantlife Cymru, Rare Breeds Survival Trust, RSPB Cymru, the Sustainable Food Trust and the Farmers' Union of Wales.
In 1990 there were 58 red meat abattoirs in Wales, whereas today there are just 15, with nine being small-medium, and five of these being classed as small.
Even fewer are able to provide all of the services farmers need to sell directly to local consumers, such as butchering, packaging, processing small numbers of animals, multi-species animals, having organic certification, and the ability to deal with horned animals, or those 'over thirty months' (OTM).
This issue puts Welsh farmers' ability to sell and distinguish their products from imports produced to lower environmental and animal welfare standards at risk.
All co-signatures of the letter highlighted the role of grazing livestock for the management and enhancement of priority habitats across Wales, from peatlands to salt marshes, species-rich grasslands to heathlands, ffriddoedd and 'Celtic Woodlands'.
Farmers' Union of Wales president Ian Rickman said: 'The FUW has been clear that if the Welsh Government wants to promote a 'circular economy' and ensure Welsh produce produced to high environmental standards can be marketed as such, then the abattoir infrastructure is an essential enabler.
"The fact that Australian and New Zealand lamb imports have increased by 78 per cent, at the same time that farmers in Wales are struggling to sell their produce locally, makes no sense.
"Such a situation undermines the efforts farmers are making to enhance biodiversity, nutritional value, and low carbon produce sold to Welsh consumers, as well as the integrity of Welsh Lamb and Beef's 'Protected Geographical Indication' status.
Other issues facing abattoirs include 'animal by-products' which used to represent an income stream for abattoirs and contributed towards a circular economy, which are now an added cost due to disposal charges.
Teleri Fielden, Farmers' Union of Wales policy officer added: 'Farmers in Wales are rightfully proud of our high animal welfare standards and the quality of life afforded to many grazing livestock.
"While out of the farmers' control, short journeys to slaughter is part of this, as is access to casualty and emergency slaughter services.
"However, there is only one slaughterhouse in Wales which has the 'contract' to receive BovineTB reactors, creating lengthy journeys and additional stress to both the animal and the farmer experiencing a bTB breakdown.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
British Business Bank invests in entrepreneurs in £6.6bn funding commitment
On Monday, the Prime Minister said he will cut electricity costs for thousands of businesses as part of the strategy, in a bid to help accelerate economic growth. The British Business Bank has seen its total financial capacity grow to £25.6 billion since the most recent spending review. 🆕 The Government has confirmed £6.6bn of new capital for the British Business Bank to boost growth. A new £4bn initiative, British Business Bank Industrial Strategy Growth Capital, will be invested across eight growth-driving sectors. Read more: — British Business Bank (@BritishBBank) June 23, 2025 It has said its latest £6.6 billion investment commitment will particularly help the rapid growth of small business across the UK. The Government said £4 billion will be invested through the new Industrial Strategy Growth Capital initiative, focusing on eight target sectors including advanced manufacturing, clean energy, digital, and life sciences. A further £2.6 billion will be aimed at supporting entrepreneurs across the UK, providing funds to help address regional funding gaps. Louis Taylor, chief executive of the British Business Bank, said: 'We welcome today's announcement by the secretary of state to deliver British Business Bank industrial strategy growth capital, as well as the reforms to the Bank's governance and financial framework. 'Using our market expertise and reach, we have a critical role to play in supporting smaller businesses in the eight growth-driving sectors to grow and stay in the UK. 'To deliver the Government's growth mission it is also critical that our most promising entrepreneurs can access the finance they need to grow their businesses, no matter what their background or where they are located across the nations and regions of the UK.'
Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
British Business Bank invests in entrepreneurs in £6.6bn funding commitment
The UK Government's development bank has revealed the investment plans as part of Sir Keir Starmer's 10-year industrial strategy announcement. On Monday, the Prime Minister said he will cut electricity costs for thousands of businesses as part of the strategy, in a bid to help accelerate economic growth. The British Business Bank has seen its total financial capacity grow to £25.6 billion since the most recent spending review. 🆕 The Government has confirmed £6.6bn of new capital for the British Business Bank to boost growth. A new £4bn initiative, British Business Bank Industrial Strategy Growth Capital, will be invested across eight growth-driving sectors. Read more: — British Business Bank (@BritishBBank) June 23, 2025 It has said its latest £6.6 billion investment commitment will particularly help the rapid growth of small business across the UK. The Government said £4 billion will be invested through the new Industrial Strategy Growth Capital initiative, focusing on eight target sectors including advanced manufacturing, clean energy, digital, and life sciences. A further £2.6 billion will be aimed at supporting entrepreneurs across the UK, providing funds to help address regional funding gaps. Louis Taylor, chief executive of the British Business Bank, said: 'We welcome today's announcement by the secretary of state to deliver British Business Bank industrial strategy growth capital, as well as the reforms to the Bank's governance and financial framework. 'Using our market expertise and reach, we have a critical role to play in supporting smaller businesses in the eight growth-driving sectors to grow and stay in the UK. 'To deliver the Government's growth mission it is also critical that our most promising entrepreneurs can access the finance they need to grow their businesses, no matter what their background or where they are located across the nations and regions of the UK.'
BreakingNews.ie
an hour ago
- BreakingNews.ie
House price inflation hits 10-year high, according to Daft.ie report
Housing price inflation has hit a 10-year high, according to a property website. Prices rose by an average of 3 per cent across Ireland during the second quarter of 2025, House Price Report released on Monday said. Advertisement The typical listed price nationwide in the second quarter of the year was €357,851, 12.3 per cent higher than a year previously and 40 per cent higher than at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The current rate of inflation in the market is the highest seen in the 10 years since mortgage market rules were introduced. The surge in Dublin of 12.3 per cent is in line with the average for the rest of the country, whereas in the rest of Leinster, the annual increase in prices is 14.3 per cent. Inflation is also close to the national average in both Limerick city (12.8 per cent) and Galway city (12.5 per cent). Advertisement In Waterford city, the rate is 15.2 per cent, while in Cork city the increase in prices is slower, at 8.6 per cent. The average list price in Dublin is €467,913, €369,938 in Cork city and €426,348 in Galway City. Ireland's limited supply of homes, due to stalled construction during the recession, is blamed for now skyrocketing house prices. The Government has boosted its target for the homes it aims to build as a result, despite missing its target last year and the housing minister stating this year's target of 41,000 is 'not realistic'. Advertisement The number of second-hand homes available to buy nationwide on June 1st was close to 12,100. This is largely unchanged from the figure a year ago and less than half the pre-Covid average of almost 25,000. Author of the report Ronan Lyons, an economist at Trinity College Dublin, said it was up to policymakers to solve the housing shortage. 'The fastest increase in housing prices since mortgage market rules were introduced a decade ago highlights the importance of addressing Ireland's chronic and worsening housing shortage. Ireland Six in 10 employees expect to receive salary raise... Read More 'The substantial increases over the past year in almost all parts of the country are linked to the lack of second-hand supply. This in turn is related to the increase in interest rates earlier in the decade. 'As interest rates come down and mortgage-holders come off their fixed rate terms, the picture for second-hand supply will improve. 'There are already some tentative signs in Dublin of an increase in second-hand supply. Nonetheless, the second-hand market is only part of the solution. 'Ultimately, policymakers have to address their failure to recognise and provide the framework for enough new homes each year.'
