Abattoirs can't cope with the increase in demand

Crowded Abattoirs Threaten Animal Welfare

Recent cuts in the number of cattle handled by abattoirs and the rush to meet the deadline means older animals are sometimes facing long journeys to slaughter houses.

Jim Watson of Midland Marts abattoirs criticised the Government for the backlog. "They are not concerned that we have cows that we should slaughter the same day that we receive them. And we spent all this Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday milking cows that should have been slaughtered last Thursday and Friday."

Glen Berry, an Animal Welfare inspector, acknowledged that the rules guaranteeing animal welfare were becoming unenforceable due to the rush to meet the Government's deadline.

"The law can not be fully complied with and this poses an enforcement problem for inspectors in that these animals should be taken to the nearest available place of slaughter. But there is no facilities for them so they have to be transported much longer distances than is in the interests of their welfare."

The Ministry of Agriculture has said that the Monday's deadline and the reduction in the amount of cattle abattoirs are able to handle is an unfortunate coincidence.

However this is a coincidence that will save the Government money. Last year the BSE crisis cost the Government £1.5 billion, this year they hope to reduce that figure by a third.