Cows and pigs sent to EU for butchering as labour crisis deepens

Britain’s cattle farmers are currently being forced to ship carcasses to the European Union for processing amid a lack of butchers.

Nick Allen, main govt of the British Meat Processors Affiliation, mentioned producers were sending provides to Eire exactly where they can be carved into cuts, ahead of reimporting them into the United kingdom.

Pork producers are also expecting to start off shipping and delivery pigs to the Netherlands for butchering in the latest sign of serious labour shortages in the United kingdom. Many personnel have still left the nation because of to the pandemic and Brexit.

Culling has continued at overseas abattoirs despite the Federal government issuing 800 momentary visas for butchers to enter the United kingdom for 6 months. The Federal government is also funding cold storage for carcasses.

Mr Allen informed the Fiscal Situations that farmers “are just about maintaining their heads above h2o at the moment”.

He additional: “The backlog is not getting any worse, but it is not getting any far better.” He mentioned staffing numbers were close to 15pc beneath the norm.

Zoe Davies, main govt of the Countrywide Pig Affiliation, mentioned 10,000 healthier pigs experienced been culled as a outcome of the backlog constructing up on farms.

She additional piglets were ordinarily currently being culled as they are much easier to method, in distinct to inexpensive products and solutions these as lard rather than more high-priced cuts that essential expert butchers.

There have been warnings that up to a hundred and twenty,000 pigs will require to be culled since the lack of butchers is foremost to overcrowded circumstances on farms that can spread ailment.

Farmers have identified as for laws to be loosened so they can slaughter their very own meat, rather than shipping and delivery them to centralised abattoirs and packing vegetation.

Present-day rules signify farmers can only eliminate their very own animals for consumption on the farm, and not to market the meat commercially.