Labour shortages in UK abattoirs have led to a Yorkshire farmer killing hundreds of piglets.
Another farmer in Lincolnshire reported that she has 1,600 pigs on her farm that should have gone to slaughter already and described the crisis as the worst she has experienced in 35 years of farming.
Brexit and the Covid pandemic are being blamed for the labour shortages.
The backlog has meant adult pigs are not being killed fast enough and there is not enough space for younger pigs, which are cheaper and easier to kill.
According to the National Pig Association (NPA), there may be other cases of farmers killing healthy livestock due to the backlog on farms.
A Defra spokesman said the Government would continue to work closely with the industry to explore options.
It has been reported that humane cull is being considered, which would see prime healthy pigs being used for cheap products with farmers unlikely to receive compensation.
The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) said the workforce in large abattoirs is 15 per cent down ahead of Christmas.
“The main barrier is labour, with the job market at the moment, it’s not worked. We do need access to some non-UK labour,” said Nick Allen from the BMPA.
LSL News.