British Columbia communities still suffering financial pains from BSE are urged to apply for government aid to build their own small or mobile slaughter plants.
Pat Bell, the province’s agriculture minister, said not all the $5 million in a government fund for building small abattoirs has been allocated. The deadline for application is Sept. 30.
Bell said his department has identified at least five small plants that could act as a model for other community abattoirs and could be built for less than $300,000.
“There is certainly opportunity for small or mobile units.”
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The B.C. Food Processors Association is managing the $5 million fund and each project is eligible for 50 percent funding up to $100,000.
“If a community gets behind one, it can build it for a nominal cost,” said Bell during a conference call. He believes smaller plants scattered throughout the province are more economically feasible to build and operate than large-scale plants that need full-time staff.
“What makes a lot of sense is building a modular unit that can be expanded over time.”
Bell said the three portable and two stationary abattoirs they’ve identified with potential have a six to 10 head a day slaughter capacity. That would help livestock owners who often wait months to get their cattle into existing slaughter plants.
