Concern over future of council-run Stornoway abattoir
The committee heard that some crofters were slaughtering livestock at home, rather than putting the animals to the abattoir.It was told there had been a decline in sheep numbers in the isles, which could also be affecting throughput at the facility.
Mr Morrison told the committee: "We have to put a message out to the users that it is either use it or lose it as far as the abattoir is concerned."He added: "I don't think we're doing much good by putting an increase of 5% on the kill charges but I do understand that that has to happen."Slaughter fees for a sheep will rise to about £44.Loch a Tuath councillor Donald Crichton said crofters were being discouraged from increasing their sheep stock due to bureaucracy around farming.Last year, the comhairle used £50,000 of Crown Estate funding to support the abattoir.A saving of about £14,000 was also achieved by opening the site later in the year.Reporting by local democracy reporter Peter Urpeth.
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