Little interest in mobile slaughter: funding remains unused!

Little interest in mobile slaughter: funding remains unused!

There is currently a remarkable trend in animal husbandry and processing in Schleswig-Holstein. Despite significant financial support of 300,000 euros from the Ministry of Agriculture, the mobile slaughtering operations are not really getting off the ground. Only two applications have been submitted since funding began in June 2024, which is worrying the authorities. So reported NDR. It remains to be seen whether the deadline for applications until August 31, 2025 will bring new supplies into the system.

The aim of this measure is clear: more animals should be slaughtered directly in the stable in order to avoid stressful transport and at the same time promote regional structures. In Schleswig-Holstein, however, the scene is under pressure because only 80 slaughterhouses are still active, including only two larger slaughterhouses. Mobile slaughter could be an important piece of the puzzle to fill the gap left by the closure of many land-based slaughterhouses. State Secretary Anne Benett-Sturies emphasizes that mobile slaughter provides both transparency for consumers and an important contribution to climate protection.

Challenges of mobile slaughter

Farmer Hinrich Schramm from Ahrensbök experiences the reality of mobile slaughter first hand. He has been running a mobile slaughter vehicle for poultry for four years and has already invested 100,000 euros in purchasing it. He slaughters around 20,000 chickens on site every year. Although customers appreciate the transparency and are willing to pay higher prices, the mobile process is a financial hit: the costs are more than twice as high as industrial slaughtering. Schramm receives 3.50 euros per chicken slaughtered, which ensures him a living but does not promise high profits.

In order to meet the new requirements imposed by EU regulations on farm and pasture slaughter in force since 2021, farmers of farm animals can slaughter a limited number of animals on their own farm, provided that a (semi-)mobile slaughter unit is part of an approved slaughterhouse. The Minister of Agriculture, Werner Schwarz, has recognized this as an opportunity for economic development in rural areas and believes that the effort could soon pay off.

Future prospects for mobile slaughter

In order to increase interest in mobile slaughter, the funding program will also be expanded to include the slaughter of pigs and poultry from 2025. In addition, slaughterhouses in Schleswig-Holstein can receive up to 50 percent of eligible expenses, up to a maximum of 40,000 euros, as part of this funding. But the requirements are high: a hygiene and usage concept is crucial, and the presence of an official veterinarian during slaughter is mandatory.

Despite the good approaches and the available resources, the success of mobile slaughter remains a challenge. Finding answers to consumer expectations requires more than just financial support. It is important for companies to show good hands and fully exploit the possibilities of mobile slaughter. For further information and to submit an application, contact Matthias Lau is available on 0431 988 4975 or by email. If you would like to learn more about the topics of agriculture and animal husbandry, you can refer to the information provided by State of Schleswig-Holstein and State government of Schleswig-Holstein turn around.