A coalition of farming, conservation and food organisations has written to the Welsh Government warning that the decline of small abattoirs in Wales is threatening farmers’ ability to sell local, high-welfare meat directly to consumers.

In a letter to Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs Huw Irranca-Davies, the group said the shrinking abattoir network could undermine sustainable farming and the distinctiveness of Welsh produce.

The letter is co-signed by eight organisations: the Farmers’ Union of Wales, Nature Friendly Farming Network, North Wales Wildlife Trust, Pasture for Life, Plantlife Cymru, Rare Breeds Survival Trust, RSPB Cymru and the Sustainable Food Trust.

They point out that while Wales had 58 red meat abattoirs in 1990, that number has now dropped to just 15 - of which only nine are classed as small or medium. Even fewer offer the full range of services required for direct-to-consumer sales, such as processing small numbers of animals, butchery, packaging, organic certification, or handling older or horned animals.

The organisations also stressed the vital role grazing livestock play in managing a wide range of habitats across Wales - from salt marshes and heathlands to peatlands and Celtic rainforests - and said economic sustainability is at risk if farmers cannot add value through local meat sales, particularly for hardy native breeds.

Ian Rickman, Farmers’ Union of Wales President, 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.

“The FUW’s Livestock and Hill Farming Committee wish to see the Government providing additional support to abattoirs in light of increased and burdensome regulation, running costs and veterinary capacity issues. The letter also urges the Government to ensure the Food Standards Agency small abattoir discount is maintained, that they recognise the abattoir network as ‘critical infrastructure for Wales’, and work with industry to explore solutions such as capital grant schemes.”

Abattoirs are also facing rising costs from disposing of animal by-products such as skins, hides and offal. These used to generate income but now often represent an added expense due to disposal charges.

Teleri Fielden, Farmers’ Union of Wales Policy Officer added: “As the letter outlines, the startling loss of small and local abattoirs in Wales, which is replicated across the rest of the UK, poses a threat to sustainable farming, biodiversity restoration, Welsh produce, animal welfare and our circular economy. The FUW looks forward to finding solutions to this issue by working with the Welsh Government and the wider industry.”