Over 90% of Britain's Abattoirs Have Disappeared Since the 70s

Since the 1970s, more than 90% of Britain's abattoirs have closed, a trend the article argues may worsen animal welfare by increasing transport distances and slaughter volumes at fewer facilities, rather than reducing animal deaths. The piece examines the unintended consequences of consolidation in the meat industry on farmed animal welfare.

Britain has lost more than 90 percent of its abattoirs since the 1970s. This massive drop in numbers does not mean fewer animals face slaughter. The number of UK slaughterhouses fell from 2,500 in the 1970s down to just 203 today. That drop represents a decline of roughly 92 percent. A 2025 survey of 850 farmers and land managers found that two-thirds struggled to access a suitable facility. One-third of those surveyed had seen an abattoir they used shut down. A report by the Sustainable Food Trust, Soil Association, and Rare Breeds Survival Trust highlights the issue. The report asks for urgent government intervention to stop more closures and to support farmers and British food security. It warns that these closures push the food system toward larger and more industrial supply chains. Economic pressures already drive the UK meat industry toward centralization. Large processing plants often conflict with basic animal welfare standards and safe working conditions for staff. A report last year from the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission noted that losing small and medium-sized abattoirs increases livestock journey distances. It also raises the risk of illegal slaughter activity. National demand for meat continues to rise despite the closures. The shift simply consolidates power among large companies that control food production. The UK meat industry already relies heavily on a small number of massive corporations. Factory farms are growing across the country, including large US-style megafarms. The 30 largest UK megafarms hold capacity for more than 11 million chickens and 145,000 pigs. A report in September showed that three companies hold almost complete market domination of the UK poultry supply. Five companies control about 60 percent of dairy processing turnover. Eight companies control roughly 70 percent of overall meat processing turnover in the UK. This industrialization puts profits above everything else. The shift threatens to erode welfare standards, damage working conditions, and harm farmers while the total number of farmed animals continues to grow.

Read source: Plant Based News