Meat plant queues due to higher prices

MHK claims meat plant now more attractive to Manx farmers

An MHK believes longer waiting times at the Island's meat plant are due to the facility paying higher prices this year.

Tim Baker, who is a political member of the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, confirmed farmers who have their livestock processed on the Island now receive similar payments to those offered by UK abattoirs.

Previously, some farmers found it made more sense commercially to send animals to the UK for slaughter, but Mr Baker says the Tromode site has processed 3,000 more sheep in 2018 than at the same time last year.

He claims the changes to the way the plant is run over the last year have made it busier.