The Petition. Presentation and Comments

The Petitions.   

First, a very big thank you to everyone who took the time to leave comments on the online petition, write them on the paper petition or send them to me.  What people really feel about a situation is, I think, so important and I wanted their views to be recognised as valuable and significant.

I closed the online petition on 12 October, just before a local meeting about the abattoir situation where I was able to hand over the petition to Orkney's MSP, Liam McArthur, so he could take it to the Scottish Government.  In total, the number of people who signed the various petitions, many leaving informative and helpful comments, was 2252.

The text from the newspaper isn't very clear in the image, especially if you're reading this on a small device, so I've copied it below.

  Orkney MSP Liam McArthur has handed over a petition stating the need for an abattoir in Orkney to the Scottish Government's cabinet secretary for rural economy, Fergus Ewing.
  The petition was organised and set up by local woman Jane Cooper during Orkney's agricultural shows season, so assess the local support for a new facility in Kirkwall.
  The petition attracted almost 1,000 signatures within its first three days, also gaining support from Mr McArthur, with the MSP saying he feared for the Orkney Lamb and Beef brands.
  Orkney's only abattoir, a council-owned facility at Hatston industrial estate, was shut down at the beginning of this year due to running costs and the need for maintenance.
  Mr McArthur said: "This petition highlights the strength of feeling locally abaout the need for Orkney to have its own abattoir.  For a community that is so reliant on high quality livestock farming the loss of such a facility seems inconceivable. 
  "In presenting the petition to the Agriculture Secretary, Fergus Ewing, today, I reiterated that message and urged Mr Ewing to ensure that the Scottish Government does all it can, even at this late stage, to help deliver a successful outcome."

Local meeting about the abattoir on 12 October

I transcribed all the comments so they could easily be read and a copy was included with the petition. They are listed at the end of this post.  I also printed out and gave copies of the transcribed comments to  Liam McArthur and a Council representative at the 12 October meeting.

I believe that the meeting on 12 October is regarded as 'private', but I do think it wouldn't be breaking any confidentiality to say that Liam McArthur and members of Orkney branch of NFUS are supportive and have a good understanding of the seriousness of the situation of Orkney having been without any local abattoir service for nearly a year now, and with no viable slaughtering options at all for North Ronaldsay sheep, Orkney pigs, Orkney goats, other rare breed primitive livestock and fallen livestock.  (the value to Orkney farming of the latter I got from Council information is around £80,000 a year) Their views have been made public at local NFUS meetings and in what Liam McArthur has said that's been reported in The Orcadian and on Radio Orkney.

Orkney Radio Interview 10 October 

I have found a public comment from Orkney Islands Council regarding the abattoir in an interview on Radio Orkney from 10 October 2018.  You can listen to this interview here and I would encourage you to listen to it yourself since the spoken words convey so much: 

https://www.mixcloud.com/radioorkney/around-orkney-wednesday-10th-october-2018/

It starts at 1 minute 40 seconds into the programme.

For convenience I've transcribed the interview as best I could and it's copied below.  It starts off with some important information read by the interviewer, and then in a larger font, are the replies from Andrew Drever.

Consortium of local butchers who were keen on opening a new abattoir in the county say they’ve had to abandon the plans.

Orkney meat processors Ltd had expressed an interest in opening a new purpose built abattoir to serve the county but it’s become clear that the venture faced some very serious business problems. Running an abattoir in Orkney is never going to be a huge money spinner but it had been hoped that the butchers’ consortium might be able to operate a facility that would at least wash its own face financially. That’s now been ruled out and the butchers have had no choice but to pull out of the project. It’s understood that the business projections suggest that even operating a brand new smaller & more efficient abattoir in Orkney could lose in the region of £40,000 a year and there’s no guarantee that figure wouldn’t increase in the future. One of the butchers involved said that the consortium remained absolutely committed to the idea of having a local abattoir and would support any venture that established a facility in Orkney. But from a business point of view the sums just don’t add up.

Meanwhile Islands Council has announced it’s relaunching its £50,000 challenge fund. This fund, which was originally opened earlier this year was established to encourage the private sector to develop potential solutions to providing a sustainable abattoir for the county. At that time thre were high hopes that an industry led initiative might be the way forward but as we’ve just heard that’s now been rules out. Now the council says that applications for money through the fund are being welcomed from anybody that has a plan that would see a local abattoir operating in Orkney.

Andrew Drever is the vice chairman of the development and infrastructure committee:

“Well I’m pleased the council has relaunched the challenge fund just to give another opportunity to see if there is any organisation or individual out there that can put forward a proper business case to see if we can get an abattoir reopened in Orkney”

“And you’re still confident that it is possible. It’s no like an impossible ask?”

“I think the council’s just heard that there might be a possibility out there that’s got missed so the only way we can find out is to be putting that out to the industry. Get an industry led answer to it. And by industry I mean the producers, the farmers, the butchers etc. Because they know their customers. They know the costs. And if anybody can do it I would say they can do it. The problem might be getting an operator. It’s finding a mechanism to make it work if it at all can.”

“And it’s important from your point of view that the council is seen to be promoting it, seen to be supporting it?”

“Absolutely. As you will know we subsidised the process for a 5 year period as an interim step to prevent it collapsing in 2012 and I think the council is still committed to assisting where it can. But I don’t think it's got the resources to subsidise it any further than what it has been. The building itself is too big for use and we need to look at an alternative solution.”

The Comments from the Petitions. 

Comments copied and pasted from the change.org online petition.

Small local abattoirs are essential for locality of food supply and ethical standards.

Local abattoirs, as opposed to centralised behemoths, are vital for many reasons: ranging from animal welfare to providing jobs. Orkney’s farmers, butchers and their customers need to have this resource reinstated.

This is an issue for farmers across UK

As a sheep producer I know the challenge of trying to find a local abattoir. It is vitally important that this community have one.

This is such an important issue. Without this basic facility the sheep industry in Orkney will cease to exist. This would be an enormous loss to the community and to the future generations of the island.

As a regular holidaymaker in the Orkney Isles, I want to buy local produce when I’m there to support the local community and to reduce food miles. This year we visited North Ronaldsay for the first time and fell in love with the island. We went because I’d been fascinated by the story of the sheep since I first heard it. If the lack of an abattoir is threatening this industry, and therefore much of the tourist industry on the island, it must be threatening the viability of the island community itself.

It makes sense

As a farmer myself , I feel livestock should be slaughtered local to where they are raised , to reduce stress for livestock and also create employment in the local area .

For their welfare animals should be slaughtered close to their origin and mobile abatoires can be a way forward.

A simple abattoir set up will keep the island aluve.

I care about the environment!

I have friends in Orkney, and it's causing great problems for livestock owners.

Local abattoirs are essential across the UK, but none more than here.

This establishment is fundamental to the survival of the way of life for the locals and their livestock

Apart from the reasons listed I’m against live transport and therefore it’s essential that rural areas have their abattoirs.

Because Orkney needs its own abattoir

Small producers can't possibly manage without the facility 

I support all Jane's comments. This is an iconic sheep - the oldest sheep breed in Northern Europe according to Danish investigation of bones it is 8 thousand year old. It is absolutely critical we do not lose this Scottish heritage. Internationally renowned. Given the chance it has amazing potential to save the island and the sheep and place Scotland on the food map of the world. It is about to have International Presidium Status, the top level in Slow Food Foundation - the first ever in Scotland! North Ronaldsay Mutton is already on SF Ark of Taste. Signed, Wendy Barrie, Director of Scottish Food Guide & Leader of Slow Food Ark of Taste in Scotland & Bo Dalgren, Chair of Linderöd pig & Vice Chair of Swedish Mountain Cow Fjälnära - both live genebanks 

The stress and conditions an animal has to endure on long journeys is so wrong on every level

i believe that there should be local abattoirs for animal welfare and, especially in the case of the Highlands and Islands, for the local economy. It's time we made an effort to cut food miles.

The islands need local abattoirs for the welfare of stock, fewer miles, less stress, better meat quality.

This sounds a necessity for the island.

Local abattoirs are absolutely essential for animal welfare. Long distance travel for slaughter is unacceptable. It is inhumane, affects meat quality, and is extremely costly. We could not survive without ours, which is 5 miles away

Local abattoirs are essential, particularly to an island community. I use our local abattoir which is just 4 miles away this much reduces the stress to the animals travelling there which they would otherwise suffer travelling longer distances.
The protection and survival of the North Ronaldsey sheep is important and this goes hand in hand with the need for an operational abattoir on the island.

This is essential for the welfare of both animals and people. Quality local produce and sustainable farming are essential to Orkney's future. We need an abattoir in the islands to ensure the islands remain resilient in the face of climatic, political and economic change.

It’s very important for the island and for sheep to sustain its breed and thrive in its natural island and need abbatoir to keep numbers and feed island

The island needs a local abattoir to prevent suffering, to maintain the ecosystem , to retain a rare breed and support those who care for the animals which make the island what it is

Local abitoirs are vital for the welfare of the live animals and quality of the finished meat product. How can farming be sustained without a abitoirs?

These wonderful sheep need to be looked after or we will lose yet another of our rare breeds

Orkney needs to have its abattoir reinstated to preserve these rare sheep and for the islanders to maintain their way of livelihood

I'm signing because, not only does Orkney need a local abattoir, for obvious logistical reasons, but every farmer who cares about the welfare of their livestock at the end of their lives would much prefer to take them to a small, local plant where they are treated with care and despatched with the least distress possible, after the shortest journey possible.

Longer travel times can impact animal welfare

Being responsible in terms of animal welfare is crucial in a healthy society

shutting down this - and other -slaughter houses produces longe journeys, more stress for the animals and less income for farmers (another endangered species!). Stop this madness!

This is essential for island shepherds to continue to preserve and increase rare breeds.

Local produced meat slaughtered and butchered locally.
You don't need to be a brain surgeon to realise this is best for the stock and the continuation of the island life

Live animals should not be transported. It is stressful and cruel. Money should not be a consideration when animal welfare is at stake . Orkney needs it’s abattoir to be reopened!

All animals should be slaughtered close to home and spared transportation.

It's vital!

I’m signing because I think animal welfare requires an abattoir on Orkney as an essential welfare improvement.

I have seen the huge logistical problems it poses to my niece and her partner’s business by not having one. The govt. should be encouraging young couples to make a life on the islands where they produce organic meat with the best animal welfare standards.

I'm signing this petition because I agree with the reasons given that having a local abattoir is good practice.

Been recommended

For animal welfare.

This makes so much common-sense when one thinks about the alternative, and current, process for animals awaiting slaughter. Why does the Scottish Parliament delay? Too busy trying to be independent of the UK? Local issues should come first!

We farm sheep in England and travelling as little distance as possible to abattoir is always better for maintaining high welfare standards and financially more viable!

I agree

I whole-heartedly agree.

Local abattoirs cause less stress to animals and small animal producers who have looked after their animals with kindness want their slaughter to be as stress free as possible.

We all need local abattoirs, but especially small island communities, with their unique sheep, and other livestock.

I believe in locally sourced meats and orkney has some of the best quality meat which should be sourced more by local restaurants.

It's an animal welfare issue.

An island with fantastic animals bred for meat, need to be slaughtered humanely on the island. Not shipped off hundreds of miles away.

Maintain the heritage, and a living for islanders. Protect the breed.

It's hard to believe the place with tbe highest density of cattle in Europe don't have an abattoir.

I'm signing because it's vital to keep farmer's lives viable in remote areas. Sheep farming of rare breeds like Ronaldsay and Boreray keeps a way of life alive, and for this an accessible abbatoir is needed. Lose the livestock and you lose Orkney's unique heart.

The communities on islands need such services if they are going to survive.

It is essential to island economy and keeping a rare breed alive

Not only are you considering closing a smaller abattoir, you are considering destroying a way of life and threatening the future of sheep farming on Orkney. Please do not a abuse your power, you should be encouraging the diversity of Britain not destroying it!

Rural businesses need supporting and protecting, not only to save jobs in these areas and to keep tradition alive but to keep diversity strong and rare animal breeds are a part of that.

This can be done and should be, it is vital to the future. It is deeply upsetting to think of the loss for N. Ronaldsey and what this would condemn a hard fought for way of life to, after hundreds of years of hard graft and striving, innovation, love and care it will be for nought. Not lost by lack of interest or at the choice of the islanders but taken away, forced upon them. How hard have other places fought for their PDO designations? Yet here it is the council who are holding the future in the balance and need to be convinced to act instead of advocating for something so important. How much would have been lost to us if people hadn't fought for financial investment when funds were scarce because they knew how important it was to preserve them? Some things exceed the value of money and it is shortsighted to restrict the decision to here and now. This would be a cause for deep regret in years to come when it is already too late, I hope it doesn't come to that.

Centralisation is the death knell for many rural communities and island farming communities are more isolated and therefore incur greater costs. An abattoir is essential for a thriving smallholder community and pi it’ll in protecting the sustainability of the North Ronaldsay breed.

I want the breed to survive for fleece (but appreciate that fleece alone will not make it a sustainable breed, so the meat aspect still needs to happen - but I want this to be done with animal welfare in mind.

This way of life must be allowed to live on

I believe this is necessary for the local community

Orkney needs an abattoir, - a viable solution to animal welfare, as well as supporting heritage, and a fragile economy. There is no scope to increase the numbers of beasts, so an abattoir provides the possibility of being able to "up-market" an Orkney USP - provenance, premium, sustainable, rare breed etc. ...and the sheeps' wool is a delight to work with! It is an absolute essential.

Interested in animal welfare and interested in small community welfare. I spin, dye, knit and weave a hobby made more interesting due to diversity of fleeces. We need these rare breeds. Fleece doesn’t generate enough income so meat from these sheep is essential. They need a local abattoir.

Even from over the border, I can see that this community needs it's abbatoir, thus preserving the sheep, but more importantly greatly adding financial value to the whole community. The meat produced, along with the wool and other products are unique and deserve to be promoted, maintained and developed. It is a unique resource in these days of mass production and unstable food supplies. Please fund this project for these community based, hard working people.

I go to Orkney a fair bit, and can see the need is there for an abattoir. Awful to subject the animals to the trauma of a sea passage before the inevitable stress of an abattoir.

We need to saty local & put a halt to globalisation for all world wide farming

I know from personal experience how important it is to have a local abattoir for the welfare of our farm animals.

Quicker, safer slaughter with less transporting is far better.

This is essential for the livelihood of the island and the welfare of the sheep

Orkney desperately needs an abbatoir for the preservation of the rare breed sheep, Orkney brands, and most importantly of all to reduce distress.

I live on Stronsay and Orkney needs an abbatoir

An essential for Orkney and for the viability of many a local business.

Animals should be slaughtered as close to source as possible. We are 110 miles from a slaughterhouse in Dingwall which is ridiculous so the Orkney situation is deplorable.
Plenty talk and studies done on mobile facilities but nothing happens.

Native breeds need help,also it would be a wonderful marketing for the breed and island.Travelling to slaughter should be as short as possible.

I believe it is vital to allow local slaughter of livestock to enable sustainability of animals particularly rare breeds and to reduce stress caused by long distance travelling

The less distance an animal has to travel to an abbatoir the better. Ridiculous so many local abbatoir are closing

Total madness not having abatoir! So much for animal welfare not to mention common sense!

I have smelt the awful smell emanating from animal trucks on the overnight ferry so it’s certainly needed for animal welfare reasons as well as economic ones

Livestock should NOT have to endure a Pentland Firth crossing.

we need an abattoir!!

It is imperative both to the islanders and the heritage of the island and its farmers, and those wishing to continue the traditions in future that the islands farmers receive this essential part of its infrastructure. It is also a huge welfare implication for there to be no local abattoir.

The future of these sheep must be addressed for the sake of the islanders who rely on them for food and income. Provide them with a Arbatuer & means of transport.

Totaly agree with a comment iv just read,less stress on the animal,no long milage to slaughter,come from proper little farms where animals are cared for betterx

No animal should have to travel any further than necessary for slaughter. It is inhumane.

Small island producers rely on local abattoirs to be viable.

It's for wellbeing off island life

The rare breeds need to be protected and not have to travel far to slaughter as will affect the meat quality, therefore resulting in a decline in those breeds that need protecting.

It is vital for the continuation of the livestock sector on the islands.

We need this for the islands

This is extremely important! I love Orkney meat, but I don't want any Orkney farm animal to endure unnecessary suffering on the way to slaughter. We must have an abattoir AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

It’s common sense, every community needs essential basic requirements to function correctly in this day and age.

If you don’t look after the small things there won’t be anything left when all the big things come crashing down around our ears - which they are doing with alarming speed.

For reasons of animal welfare and environmentalism.

We need to support small communities and help businesses there to survive!

As the island has a meat industry to me it seems ridiculous when you have small crofts having to send there bests south,let alone the cost and what about animals welfare

I do not own cattle or sheep but in my opinion it is essential that an island community has its own abattoir. You cannot expect the animals to suffer the trauma travelling off island to another abattoir, nor is it fair on the owner to pay out of their very small profit margins for such a service. ORKNEY needs an abattoir to suit its own needs.

Animal welfare the stress of going on a long journey

As a vegetarian, in an ideal world we wouldn't be killing animals at all, but this is surely the lesser of two evils? Transporting livestock causes more stress than is necessary. Orkney needs a local abattoir.

I was once a resident on Orkney and I know how hellish the journeys can be just to get to the mainland its not acceptable in this day and age for live stock to have to endure long unsettled journeys in the hull of a boat. Ensuring there suffering is kept to a minimum by having local abattoirs is the most compassionate thing to do aside from not eating meat at all.

It’s better for the welfare of the Orkney Animals.

Keep jobs and money in Orkney

It's important to Orkney life.

North Ronaldsay sheep so vital to the island economy and culture. And the abattoir is essential to the viability of the breed.

We need to be able to continue promoting the PDO premium label and to support a way of life peculiar to the islands and particularly to North Ronaldsay

I'm signing, because I believe local farmers need to be supprted and they need an abbatoir urgently

The further livestock have to travel off farm to slaughter the more stressful,the more stressful the worse the meat tastes...maybe we should learn from the 79’s when all smallholders knew this

I'm signing because unnecessary transportation of animals is stressful and cruel.

As a fiber business owner, animal lover, conservationist and spinner this is a extremely important issue. These sheep are the last vestiges of a by gone era. They are a rare opportunity to keep England Natural, beautiful and authentic. They hold an important place in history, rare breeds of native sheep as well as a natural gardeners. They allow tourism highlights for free. They are a natural resource, a feature and free mascots for an area of stunning beauty, wild nature, and everything that England should remain.

Current regulations and consequent financial constraints prevent Orkney having its own abattoir. This is an awful situation both economically and animal welfare wise for Orkney’s farmers.

From an animal welfare perspective it is unacceptable that livestock is travelled extensively for slaughter. It isn't good for the animals and it isn't good for the meat. From an environmental sustainability perspective, it is unacceptable that significant carbon emissions are incurred to transport livestock, when the alternative is local slaughter and transport of packaged final product. From an economic development perspective, it is unacceptable that the jobs associated with the abattoirs have been "centralised" to the mainland rather than devolved to the local communities caring for these rare breeds and living by traditional farming means.

Without the abattoirs, the stock will disappear; without the stock, the people will disappear and these islands will be the poorer for that.

Orkney needs an abattoir

It is common sense, food animals should die as close as possible to where they lived.

Because I support the statement @ Orkney needs an abattoir for the reasons given.

I believe this would be good for Orkney island's economy

Local abattoirs are essential for the welfare of stock entering the food chain. This is the case for all parts of the UK including Orkney.

Animals are best slaughtered as near the farm as possible, both because it causes minimal stress to the animal and an unstressed animal will kill out with better meat.

this way they avoid a long journey to a mainland abattoir and the possiability of the horrors of halal slaughter which Our Islamophilic government still allows

It's important to keep island identities alive and these rare sheep breeds too

Orkneys sheep are a precious genetic resource and a potential lifeline to island life. Society needs to understand how current slaughter systems are crushing the resilience of our food supply.

This is an important local issue.

It's ridulous and causinfg unnecessay stress for these sheep. What has happened to common sense. I am horified that someone hasn't the sense to see that animals having to travel is just not humane .

It’s something urgently required for the whole of Orkney

Small, local, unique and in the best interests of the sheep

There is a vital need for an abattoir in Orkney. I recommend a slaughter ship! It can travel to various isles. Kill there and leave meat for use on the island. It can also go to Caithness and export meat from here, and even do slaughtering there so as to save transporting animals to Dingwall. Much better all round!

I'm signing because I care about animal welfare - animals should be transported the minimum distance, experiencing the minimum amount of stress before slaughter. And I'm signing because I care about local people being able to be rewarded for producing high-quality, ethically produced meat, of recognized origin - only possible if animals are slaughtered on the islands.

I wrote this a while ago, when the situation first arose. This is a non meat-eaters view! And tells of why I am in favour of local abattoirs. The situation at the moment, is not good for man nor beast.
https://theorkneynews.scot/2018/02/17/another-piggin-pig-story/

I’m very much aware of how much it matters, for animal slaughter to take place as near to ‘home’ as possible – preferably at a local, well run, frequently inspected abattoir.
It may seem strange, if not even WRONG, to myself as well as those who know me, that a non-meat eater should be touting pig-flesh and lauding the idea of having a local abattoir. Part of why I don’t eat meat, is due to concerns about animal welfare – how they are reared, what substances are introduced into their bodies, and how they are slaughtered. If an animal has a good life and a clean death, and other folk want to eat them, that’s their choice. Because of how I feel about them, I still don’t choose to eat them, however good a life they’ve had – that’s my choice.
As long as people want to eat meat, my concern is that the animals to be eaten have a good life, and a humane death. As long as folk want to eat them, that is necessary, and is best for the animal, which is what matters to me. It’s long been established that, the nearer the animal is to the place of slaughter, the better it is for the animal. It means less stress, fear, and possibility of injury while travelling. And, for the meat-eaters, it does mean a better taste and quality to the meat, as the animal produces less fear-induced chemicals, which go into its flesh.

preservation of local culture and livestock is vital to the health of a society. The North Ronaldsay sheep in particular are a rare and wonderful resource both as a local breed and in terms of the international genetic history of sheep (they're a 'primitive breed', not touched by later genetic engineering).

An Abottoir is essential for people on the Island to market their livestock for a speciality market

Closure of this will only increase animal stress , farmers costs and reduce farming in orkney

I’m an islander

For an island community that prides itself on the finest quality meat production, it is ludicrous that Orkney Islands Council is not pulling out all the stops to reinstate an abattoir service, enabling locally reared meat to be sold with proper accreditation and without the unnecessary transportation of livestock for slaughter on the Scottish mainland.

It is in the best interests of animal welfare for Orkney to have its own abbatoir.

Animals shouldn't have to travel to slaughter.

Why can’t they supply - Wool Only!!
We probably won’t be eating - meat -
very soon - so waste of time!!

This facility is vital to livestock keeping and to amimal welfare in the North Isles.

Small abattoirs are essential in remote communities, both for farmers livelihoods and animal welfare.

Abbatoirs are an essential part of the rural economy.

Local provision is vital for both animal welfare and the maintenance of the premium brand.

It seems common sense that Orkney has its own abattoir. Better for animals, farmers, and local food for tourist industry

Reduce stress by shorter transport jourents.

This is self-evident!

Defra, should support these islanders, who have a tough enough life and provide the service they need. It's bad enough on the main land with fewer abbitiors around.

This is another example of Euro federalisation, centralising everything to make it impossible for local communities and actually crueller for animals.

I want the island to use its redources and the breeders to prosper

animal welfare reasons and quality of meat needs local abbatoir

Basic animal welfare must be considered by all parties, a local abattoir saves stress and allows an income in an area which is already in financial difficulties

Supporting North Ronaldsay sheepkeeping

small local abattoirs are recognised as essential public infrastructure for island communities.

Long distance transport of live animals for slaughter is a disgrace and the closure of local abattoirs, particularly in locations like Orkney, only serves to further undermine animal welfare.

Our cultural heritage needs this.

Small rural communities face enough challenges.. local abattoirs are essential to local farmers, minimise food miles, thereby helping protect the environment, and provide employment. I support the farmers, businesses and communities of orkney

Abattoirs are essential - especially to island inhabitants - not having one can only increase stress for livestock and humans alike

It's cruelty to move animals for slaughter so far and a logistical nightmare for crofters

We need local abattoir facilities

Local abattoirs should be available in every area to reduce the stress on animals. On islands this is even more important.

Many reasons to keep this abattoir, but surely for the welfare of the animals it is imperative.

Desperately needed on the island

I am signing this as it is a great loss for all involved.

A local abattoir is vital to ensure good animal welfare and the only way the cultural and genetic heritage of the North Ronaldsay sheep will be saved for future generations.

We need a abattoir, we are losing our Orkney gold meats. Plus not forgetting private kill, emergency culling.

Orkney needs an abattoir both for commercial and animal welfare reasons.

It is so much kinder to all animals to live and come to the end of their lives without having to be distressed by long transportation.

Animals should not have to travel for hours/days to be slaughtered. It’s inhumane.

It is badly needed and animal health wise, less stress traveling less miles

Orkney main industry is agriculture ....beef farming, sheep farming plays the biggest part of this ...it beggars belief that the islands coild be left without an abattoir .... the brand the label and reputation of the place as a meat producer is paramount for our survival

I'm signing because as a small scale producer of goat and hoggart I am just about ready to start selling .. and now my rare breed sheep would have to undergo a stressful (for native breeds sheep) journey north or south.. which would spoil the flavour and reduces or destroys any small profit I might make.. so for now I am stuck with stock I can't sell for meat, but can't afford to sell as store animals but all the while I have more than I can use as self sufficiency. It is ludicrous that our Orkney Butchers can no longer offer 'Orkney' meat as it has to go to Shetland or Scotland for slaughter. Please Please we need a small scale abbatoir that could use the Marts lairage that is fit for purpose and up to date... and we need it to be in the pipelines yesterday.

we have a local abbatoir in N Devon - it is vital for low food miles, local produce and being as kind to the animals as possible.

As a small sheep breeder its vital, not a luxury. What am I supposed to do with old sheep

It will allow Orkney bred animals to retain their Orkney accreditation and good name for quality. Remove the need to travel long distances for preparation.

For the welfare of the animals and presearving the Orkney provenance

The folks on Orkney work hard to preserve rare breed sheep, which is of benefit to us all, and to produce local PDO meat sustainably. For both of these activities, they need an abattoir on Orkney.

Local abattoirs are the way forward for a sustainable future.

For the sake of the innocent animals, and for the sake of Planet Earth.

Orkney needs an Abattoir always had one before and still needs one

Less stress on livestock and more convenient.

Having my Boer (meat) goats slaughtered and sold locally is not an option while there is no abattoir.

It’s so important that Orkney can process its own meat. Animals should only travel as short a distance as possible! Food production should be kept as local as possible!

It is ridiculous that we have no abattoir and the planned one at the Mart would not cost as much as the council say it will.

Animals should be slaughtered close to origin and not transported unnecessarily. It would be dreadful if our specialist native breeds decline in number due to inaction

Transcribed comments from paper petition sheets

Comments and replies to “Orkney Needs An Abattoir”

Comments repeated many times:

Absolutely Essential

We need an abattoir

Essential

Essential Service

Needed

Needs to be local

Welfare

YES!

Much needed facility

Needs to be local for animal welfare

Much better for animals not to travel so far to an abattoir

Much needed for local folk in Orkney and visitors alike

An abattoir in Orkney is ESSENTIAL for the future of commercially keeping North Ronaldsay sheep

It would help to keep overheads down for young farmers

Saves stressing out the livestock on long journeys

It would produce a few local jobs for young farmers

Need to keep jobs in Orkney

Animal welfare. Process costs. Ability to serve Orkney products in Orkney!

This is an important animal welfare issue

Utterly necessary

Mobile abattoir needed urgently

Need to get a meeting organised asap

Orkney needs this.

Of course Orkney needs an abattoir for welfare & jobs

We know what it's like without one

A necessity

Absolutely essential for island community eg fallen stock

You must have abattoir in Orkney

Obviously there has to be an abattoir

Essential service

Much needed. Cost too much to put south.

Needed badly

We are going backwards, not forwards

Who is looking at welfare. Shipping out is a no no. Welfare first, not money

Disgraceful not having one

Desperately needed

Lobby Scottish Government

Needs to be in Orkney!

Bloody right it does!

This is a must for Orkney

This is very important on welfare grounds alone

Orkney meat brand was hard won – no abattoir means loss of brand

We need a facility to be self-sufficient post Brexit

It's a disgrace this facility doesn't exist in Orkney

The current situation of animals going off island to be slaughtered is cruel & unnecessary

A real necessity for farming & welfare of the beasts

Obviously very necessary

Needed for local meat

Preferable

What happened to common sense? Just do it!

For PDO it's essential

Better for animals

Save Orkney Beef

The council should support the Orkney farm animals and jobs

On welfare grounds this is essential – I am a vegan

Meat eater

Very much needed

Orkney needs one

We really need this

Animal welfare/travel conditions

Crazy not to!!

Essential to get one again

A necessity no matter where one lives! An essential need!

Not before time!!

As a goatkeeper much needed by us

Goatmeat production can only expand with an abattoir locally

Must happen

No use without it

Yes ASAP!

Of course we do!

Happy to help

Of course we need a bloody abattoir

We NEED an abattoir

I agree with above

We need an abattoir to … PDO premium and for good animal welfare

NOW!

Desperately needed, how can Orkney function without one

We need this to keep local small livestock people going

Sooner the better

Essential for animal welfare & good local economy

Desperately needed

Quality cattle need the support of slaughter locally

Should be local not far away

It's not cost effective to ship animals away

A very BIG concern

An absolute disgrace to close this

An absolute necessity

About time the council got on with this

Much needed

Get on with it!

We need one urgently

Situation really desperate for farmers due to lack of abattoir

Urgent

This is an essential p..st for people producing local produce and should have the council's full support

Orkney really needs this!

Preserve & protect Orkney Brand

Mobile abattoirs should be invested in.

I cannot believe that a farming community has to send animals on a boat journey and long road trip to be slaughtered especially since I am sure that I have heard recently that it will soon be illegal to ship live animals across the English Channel - surely that is a comparable journey?  

I believe that we are in a similar situation to you - we keep a few sheep, sell some lambs to cover costs and have always had two or three slaughtered for our own consumption.  We buy beef from a friend who has put an animal to Kirkwall to be slaughtered- whether or not he can continue to do this if it has to be sent south is uncertain.  Soon we'll only be able to buy our meat in the major supermarkets and in an era of concern about food miles this is ridiculous.  Our Council are an absolute disgrace over this matter and I am in admiration that you are trying to hold them to account.