A STUDY looking into how best to support livestock farming in the New Forest has concluded that an abattoir is not currently a viable proposition.

A survey of farmers demonstrated that although there are likely to be enough animals to generate demand for an abattoir in the area, the challenges of sourcing enough funding to build the abattoir coupled with the sector’s low profit margins make it unlikely to gain sufficient returns.

New Forest Marque chairman Jane Overall said: “The lack of a New Forest abattoir has been a long-running topic of conversation for years.

“It is disappointing for meat producers that a viable business model is not there at the current time, but we are committed to supporting small farmers in the forest and will look carefully at the report to see how best the New Forest Marque can help this sector in such difficult times.”

Sam Dovey, local group secretary of the National Farmers’ Union, said: “The report is very thorough and gives us lots to think about here in the forest.”

For details visit newforestmarque.co.uk