Is restructuring inevitable in the meat processing sector.
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Kepak’s announcement this week that it is reviewing its boning operation at Clonee took many in the farm sector by surprise. However, the move was hardly earth-shattering for anyone who has been looking at the statistics in terms of the cattle kill.
Indeed, with the overall kill falling by around 210,000 head in 2025, The Dealer would contend that more casualties in terms of slaughtering and processing facilities across the sector are likely. And Ireland is not alone in terms of meat-sector restructuring.
A recent study by the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) has confirmed major changes in the British meat processing sector. The AHDB study found that the number of English abattoirs processing cattle and sheep fell by 16% and 15% respectively.
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This decline has been concentrated among smaller and medium-sized plants, while larger facilities have taken on an increasing share of throughput. Almost half of all British cattle slaughtered in 2024 took place in just 13 of the largest abattoirs, while the 50 smallest abattoirs accounted for only 3%.
The sheep sector is even more concentrated, with 62% of sheep slaughtered in 23 large abattoirs and just 1% in the smallest 27.
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Kepak’s announcement this week that it is reviewing its boning operation at Clonee took many in the farm sector by surprise. However, the move was hardly earth-shattering for anyone who has been looking at the statistics in terms of the cattle kill.
Indeed, with the overall kill falling by around 210,000 head in 2025, The Dealer would contend that more casualties in terms of slaughtering and processing facilities across the sector are likely. And Ireland is not alone in terms of meat-sector restructuring.
A recent study by the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB) has confirmed major changes in the British meat processing sector. The AHDB study found that the number of English abattoirs processing cattle and sheep fell by 16% and 15% respectively.
This decline has been concentrated among smaller and medium-sized plants, while larger facilities have taken on an increasing share of throughput. Almost half of all British cattle slaughtered in 2024 took place in just 13 of the largest abattoirs, while the 50 smallest abattoirs accounted for only 3%.
The sheep sector is even more concentrated, with 62% of sheep slaughtered in 23 large abattoirs and just 1% in the smallest 27.
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