Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) has called on Defra Ministers appointed by the new Prime Minister to maintain progress on small abattoir networks.
The collaborative action, underway between government, small abattoir owners and native breed farmers, looks to reverse the decline of the crucial local abattoir network.
It comes after the former government pledged £3m in May, on top of a £4m figure already allocated, for small abattoirs through the Farming Investment Fund.
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RBST Chief Executive Christopher Price said: “The new Government’s statements on support for farming have been very welcome. It is essential that this includes considered and robust support for the infrastructure on which farming depends.
Mr Price said that for livestock farmers working sustainably, having access to a network of local abattoir is a “major priority”.
“High on the agenda should be action to boost take-up of the Small Abattoir Fund, investment in existing abattoirs introduced by the previous government last December,” he continued.
This allowed capital grants of up to £60,000 to be available under the fund, helping operators in England improve productivity, enhance animal welfare, add value to primary products and encourage new technologies.
“The scheme should be reviewed as a matter of urgency to ensure it is fully accessible by those abattoir owners it is designed to help, many of whom do not have the cash flow to afford significant up-front costs and lack farmers’ practical experience of filling in RPA paperwork.
“Secondly, we urge the new Defra Ministers to ensure swift roll-out of the £3 million investment in new abattoirs announced in May.
“There are now many parts of the country entirely lacking a local abattoir and if sustainable livestock farming is going to survive in those areas, this loss must be reversed urgently.”
Mr Price finished by saying that “lighter touch regulation” must be pressed for the EU, as is seen throughout mainland Europe.
