Tobermory, Mull
Mull Slaughterhouse Ltd & Mull Butchers Ltd - infrastructure enabling local food supply
Contributed by:
Susan Ramsay
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The slaughterhouse is cooperatively run, with support from the islands development trust, enabling producers to wholesale or retail locally.
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Overview
The Mull and Iona Community Trust is an independent, membership based, community charity, set up by local residents of the islands of Mull and Iona in 1997 to combat rural disadvantage by supporting community initiatives and promoting sustainable development.
The slaughterhouse is owned co-operatively by sixty six farmers. It was built in the 1970’s but closed for a while in the 1990’s. The Mull and Iona Community Trust was key to its latest phase of development.
Since its re-opening, the slaughterhouse has been substantially refurbished and a cutting and packing room added and its licence extended to include OTM (Over Thirty Month) Cattle. It operates on a year-round basis offering a complete slaughtering, cutting and vacuum packing and labelling service part-time in the winter. In the past capacity was around 1000 sheep, 25-30 cattle and 40-50 pigs but the new facilities and licence means this is increasing. 80% of the beef and 60% of the lambs killed are consumed locally.
Uniquely its low throughput means it can process traditional horned cattle or native breeds of pigs (which are more hairy), which mainstream abattoirs are reluctant to take. As well as providing services for local farmers, livestock is also processed from other Argyll islands, and the mainland (Oban, Ardmurchan & Morvern). At present it is estimated that approximately 80% of beef consumed and two thirds of lamb on the islands is still imported, however the aim is for self-sufficiency on Mull and Iona.
There is a nucleus of organic farms on Mull but the abattoir is not yet licensed for organic meats. Other farms produce Highland Cattle beef and pigs from a diet of whey. There are several local initiatives serviced by the abattoir.
One of these local initiatives is Mull Butchers Ltd (est. by the Trust in June 2002), a social enterprise, which takes pride in supplying the finest of Mull and Iona's beef, lamb, mutton, pork and venison (when available). In doing so, it contributes to the sustainable economic development of the islands. Meat production on the islands is naturally seasonal. When necessary, they supplement their product range from selected Scottish suppliers. The directors, drawn from the local community, give their time freely. None of the profits are distributed amongst individuals which means a fair price for local crofters and farmers.
James Hilder, Development Manager for the Community Trust said:
"Mull Slaughterhouse Ltd. is very important, not only to Mull, but also to farmers from other islands If farmers did not have the slaughterhouse, animals from these islands, would have to go to go to Dingwall, Dunblane or the central belt, with far less meat returning to the islands for local consumption. The slaughterhouse means meat products from the islands do not have to travel far, which is good for the animals and for the environment with fewer food miles."
The Mull and Iona Community Trust continually strives for sustainability by seeking local energy generation e.g. solar panels at the slaughterhouse and helping businesses to reduce waste through an “Eco-Charter Scheme” in partnership with the local chamber of commerce This is part of the Trust’s work to reduce, reuse and recycle waste on Mull and Iona, and to seek out more environmentally sustainable living and working practices for the islands through their ‘MESS’ initiative (Mull’s Environmentally Sensitive Solutions). Under a contract with the local authority MESS recycles the islands cans, plastic bottles and textiles, and collects domestic goods for resale in two charity shops - “Island Castaways” to raise cash for local good causes. Their collection vehicle runs on biodiesel manufactured from all the used cooking oil from the islands hotels and restaurants.
For more information contact:
Mull and Iona Community Trust
2nd Floor, 20 Main Street
Tobermory, Isle of Mull
PA75 6NU
Tel. 01688 302851
Fax. 01688 302990
e-mail: enquiries@mict.co.uk
Key features
consumption
food
Key data
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Cost:
Local Authority:
Links
Mull and Iona Community Trust
Mull Butchers
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