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The negative impacts of the restructuring of the abattoir industry in Great Britain on small abattoirs

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Jeremy Robert Franks

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

This study examines the reasons why between 1979 and 2020 the number of abattoirs licenced to slaughter red blood livestock species in Great Britain fell from 1146 to 200, average throughput per abattoir increased, larger abattoirs specialised in the species slaughtered, and family owned abattoirs have been replaced by international companies owning multiple slaughterhouses and food processing factories. The study combines abattoir sector survey data with findings from a national survey of small abattoirs. Larger abattoirs have exploited economies of size and location to achieve the throughput necessary to supply multiple retailers and/or wholesale markets. Smaller abattoirs have exploited economies of scope to develop the bespoke butchering services needed to supply private kill customers. The high rate of closure of smaller abattoirs suggests the future of small-scale, locally based supply chains in which private kill services supply is threatened. The recently introduced Small Abattoir Fund offers grants towards the purchase of new equipment which will offer some relief. But smaller abattoirs must support their private kill customers by organising collection points for onward transport of livestock to the abattoir and local redistribution centres for meat and carcases.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Franks JR

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Outlook on Agriculture

Year: 2024

Volume: 53

Issue: 2

Pages: 164-176

Online publication date: 13/03/2024

Acceptance date: 14/02/2024

Date deposited: 04/04/2024

ISSN (print): 0030-7270

ISSN (electronic): 2043-6866

Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd

URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/00307270241236800

DOI: 10.1177/00307270241236800


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
The Prince's Countryside Fund

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