§ Mr. LetwinTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cattle are waiting for slaughter under the over thirty month scheme; and what is the average duration of such waits. [69489]
§ Mr. RookerIn most areas of the country farmers are able to arrange for their OTMS animals to be slaughtered within a fortnight of booking with an abattoir or market. Abattoir slaughterings are currently averaging 17,000 animals a week in the UK, which would imply that there are only around 34,000 animals waiting to be slaughtered. An emergency service exists for the expeditious slaughter on-farm of animals which, in the opinion of a veterinary practitioner, require immediate slaughter.