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Author Topic: Recommended abattoirs?  (Read 13424 times)

oaklandspigs

  • Joined Nov 2009
  • East Sussex
    • OaklandsPigs
Recommended abattoirs?
« on: September 02, 2010, 07:07:43 pm »
A question that comes up from time to time !
Thought it would be good to get a list together of Abattoirs that forum members recommend - good with smallholders and small no.pigs – this would help existing and new forum people, and between us we should be able to get a UK wide list.
I have also posted this in a couple of other forums, and will collate and post the results for all to see.
So where do you take your pigs- name and location , how do you rate them out of 10, and do they also do cutting?
To start I would submit
Little Tottingworth Farms, Heathfield, East Sussex -  8/10  - cutting plant - yes

I am also after recomended abattoirs near to Windlesham in Surrey and Faversham in Kent for people who have asked us.

Thanks for your hep in advance!
« Last Edit: September 02, 2010, 07:10:01 pm by oaklandspigs »
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JulieS

  • Joined Mar 2009
  • Devon - EX39 5RF
    • Ford Mill Farm
Re: Recommended abattoirs?
« Reply #1 on: September 02, 2010, 08:18:43 pm »
I use J & J Farmers, North Tamerton, Nr Holsworthy, Devon.  Always been really good so 9/10 (they lose one for the long bumpy lane to get there!).  They have a cutting room too.  But anyone in the area please remember we have a butchery here now for pork and lamb...You can even come along to join in if you would like to. 

Great idea to start a list off oaklandspigs  :)
Pedigree GOS Pigs and Butchery for Smallholders.

sarha

  • Joined Jun 2010
  • East Sussex
Re: Recommended abattoirs?
« Reply #2 on: September 03, 2010, 09:03:03 am »
This is a good idea!

I will also be using Tottingworth as only 15 min drive for me.

If you go to tracingpaper.org.uk, you will find a list of all EC approved abbatoirs in UK.

Forge Farm at Southborough, Kent is also good as my Mum used to take her goats there.

Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do, than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines; sail away from the safe harbour; catch the trade winds in your sails. -  Mark Twain

Fowgill Farm

  • Joined Feb 2009
Re: Recommended abattoirs?
« Reply #3 on: September 03, 2010, 09:38:37 am »
We use Horners @ Kilburn off the Thirsk to York road.
Family run, private kills but check well in advance as they do get busy specially Easter & Xmas (i book Xmas pigs in in August!!)
They only kill for me and my butcher collects but they will cut if asked.(they do my firnd's lambs beautifully)
Steep hill on way to village which can be tricky in winter so drops them to 9/10
HTH
Mandy

Sharondp

  • Joined Jun 2009
Re: Recommended abattoirs?
« Reply #4 on: September 03, 2010, 10:31:28 am »
Could this be moved to the Livestock - Other section? It's not just pigs that go for slaughter.

We haven't used this one ourselves but it has come highly recommended from a number of sources and we shall be sending our lambs there..

http://www.ensors-ltd.co.uk/index.htm

Bit of a one stop shop that does the slaughter and butchery for you.

chickenfeed

  • Guest
Re: Recommended abattoirs?
« Reply #5 on: September 03, 2010, 12:28:48 pm »
 :wave: we use two n.v gagens nr wisbech & howards of gayton kings lynn norfolk

both do pigs, sheep, goats & cattle but you have to book wekk in advance i have booked my xmas kills in already.

the best advise i would give anyone is check their is a slaughterhouse colse enough and visit prior to getting animals, i was told the other day by a villager his son (not sure where he lives) fattened up 3 pigs could not find a slaughter house nearby had to travel 3 hours to the nearest one so by the time he had dropped off and collected he had 12 hours of travelling to pay for, they have now decided not to do anymore pigs.

i would not go on recomendations myself i much prefer to visit and see the place first hand (good advice imo after eve's bad experience)

lachlanandmarcus

  • Joined Aug 2010
  • Aberdeenshire
Re: Recommended abattoirs?
« Reply #6 on: September 03, 2010, 01:15:21 pm »
I used Millers of Speyside in Grantown on Spey for our first abbatoir experience last month, and I was impressed by them. Very friendly and helpful and very quiet and calm (tho I guess having to take the hoggets there for 7am helped with the quiet bit!). They also hung and butchered them. They specialise in private kills so altho they are a fair way from us I preferred their set up to what I imagine the big operation at Inverurie to be like.

My only prob is in the icy winter I def wont be able to get up to them, so am planning my visits accordingly!

YorkshireSmallholder

  • Joined Jun 2008
  • East Yorkshire
Re: Recommended abattoirs?
« Reply #7 on: September 03, 2010, 02:11:46 pm »
We use Whites in Cranswick near Driffield, East Yorks. 10/10 - Small family run abattoir/butcher that only slaughter on Mondays. I can't speak highly enough of them.

darkbrowneggs

  • Joined Aug 2010
    • The World is My Lobster
Re: Recommended abattoirs?
« Reply #8 on: September 03, 2010, 02:32:34 pm »
Could this be moved to the Livestock - Other section? It's not just pigs that go for slaughter.

We haven't used this one ourselves but it has come highly recommended from a number of sources and we shall be sending our lambs there..

http://www.ensors-ltd.co.uk/index.htm

Bit of a one stop shop that does the slaughter and butchery for you.


I have used Ensors - they were good and efficient and they slaughtered my over 30mth steers.

All the best
Sue

PS
There is a small abbatior
C.E Partridge & Son 191, Stourbridge Rd,
Bromsgrove,
Worcestershire
B61 0AS

havent used them for slaughter as it is a pain to drive the trailer through Worcester, but I have been to their butcher shop and I would think they would be very good to use.  If you go say Susan from Bromyard recommended you. :wave:
To follow my travel journal see http://www.theworldismylobster.org.uk

For lots of info about Marans and how to breed and look after them see www.darkbrowneggs.info

Sharondp

  • Joined Jun 2009
Re: Recommended abattoirs?
« Reply #9 on: September 03, 2010, 02:51:32 pm »
Thanks Sue- I've emailed you (via your website) about Marans - did you get it?  :wave:

Sudanpan

  • Joined Jan 2009
  • West Cornwall
    • Movement is Life
Re: Recommended abattoirs?
« Reply #10 on: September 04, 2010, 04:44:22 pm »
We used R J Trevarthen - Penryn (just outside Falmouth) 9/10 (I'd give 10 but I think their sausage making is a bit expensive!)

Its a family run concern that has expanded in the last couple of years given the popularity of private kills. They advertise organic kills as well (just what is an organic kill anyway???)

Pigs taken on Monday and Wednesdays

Everyone was very helpful - no hullaballoo, and we weren't hurried at any point.
They have a full butchery service - the butcher operates on site and you can ask for any variation of cuts you want - the butcher Peter was very helpful for us as a couple of Newbies. They will also cure meat  - I haven't investigated the options for curing, but their basic cure (we had bacon and ham) is very tasty  :D

 :pig: :pig: :pig:



nessjw

  • Joined Jun 2010
Re: Recommended abattoirs?
« Reply #11 on: September 07, 2010, 08:52:07 pm »
Its Tottingworth for me too!! a first for pig slaughter, but have done other business with them,
found them friendly, and the animals treated well..

Jackie

  • Joined Nov 2009
Re: Recommended abattoirs?
« Reply #12 on: September 07, 2010, 09:37:14 pm »
Today I took my very first pigs to be slaughtered so was very, very worried about it all, BUT A Wright at Boston were really very good.

They helped me fill in the paperwork and allowed me to see anything I wanted. The staff were kind to the pigs and I didn't see a stick or anything other than a pig board for guidance.

The guy there helped me to unload the pigs and then I stayed with them inside in the pen. I wasn't made to feel in the way and I did say to the guy that he would see me crying when mine went, He replied that it often happens and I wont be the last to cry and he understood that we can get close to the pigs.
Another guy came out and said 'OOH nice healthy, clean pigs.' Apparently commercial pigs don't look so good!! Go me! I did it right!

MY pigs were calm and looking around and stayed by me but wouldn't allow me to stroke them, a bit p'd off with me I think.

I stayed and watched them being stunned then left sobbing.

I can reccomend A Wright of Boston, they are kind and understanding and very quick so the pigs weren't distressed.


oaklandspigs

  • Joined Nov 2009
  • East Sussex
    • OaklandsPigs
Re: Recommended abattoirs?
« Reply #13 on: September 08, 2010, 12:21:10 pm »
I have now collated data for over 30 abattoirs.
The following list is from views on 5 forums, and is by its nature subjective. 
If you would like to support a view, let me know and I'll add to the number of views, and if you have a different view I add to the comments.
I hope it is useful to forum users. :D
Aberdeenshire   Inverurie   Scotch Premier Meat Ltd.
No.  views    1
Comments
- They've just scaled backed their pig slaughtering due to a huge decline in the number of pigs being produced up here. They only do pigs for a couple of hours on a Friday morning now.They're prone to mistakes: like forgetting to deliver the carcasses to the butcher, like "forgetting" the pluck or the trotters, like forgetting to split the carcass and remove the head (it's sodding hard work carrying a 61kg pig carcass, on your shoulder, almost 100 metres from truck to butcher's shop), like miscalculating the bill, and like delivering the wrong carcasses to the wrong customers—despite very clear slapmarks plus vast differences in carcass size and quality. Scotch Premier don't do butchering. And good livestock handling is too dependent on the individual doing lairage—there's an excellent older chap who can sweet-talk the most recalcitrant pig or steer but there is another who, well, let's just say I disagree with his methods.
So, not exactly a recommendation!
 
Bedfordshire   Bedford   Evans & Son
No.  views    1
Comments
- 1/10 -not recommend
Cambridgeshire   Kimbolton   H J Hellet
No.  views    1
Comments
+ would recommend
Cambridgeshire   Wisbech   N V Gagen
No.  views    1
Comments
+ book well in advance
Ceredigion   Tregaron   Cig Oen Caron
No.  views    2
Comments
+ Always helpful, very small, and they do cut. 10/10 (apart from the Ministry Vet who insists on Trichinella tests on nearly every pig I take), but they are near capacity so if you want your meat cut, you have to book well in advance (nearly full for C, sorry, that event towards the end of December!).
Cornwall   Penryn   R J Trevarthen
No.  views    1
Comments
+ 9/10 (I'd give 10 but I think their sausage making is a bit expensive!) Its a family run concern that has expanded in the last couple of years given the popularity of private kills Pigs taken on Monday and Wednesdays
Everyone was very helpful - no hullaballoo, and we weren't hurried at any point.
They have a full butchery service - the butcher operates on site and you can ask for any variation of cuts you want - the butcher Peter was very helpful for us as a couple of Newbies. They will also cure meat
Cumbria   Grange Over Sands   H C Airey
No.  views    1
Comments
+ would recommend
Derbyshire   Glossop   J W Mettrick
No.  views    1
Comments
+ really nice and helpful
Devon   Holsworthy   J & J Farmers
No.  views    1
Comments
+ Always been really good so 9/10 (they lose one for the long bumpy lane to get there!).  They have a cutting room too.
Devon   Ilfracombe   Combe martin Meats
No.  views    2
Comments
+ Excellent service, small family run and very little waiting around for the animals. Pigs (including breeding sows and cull boars), sheep, goats, cattle and OTM cattle. Also does organic.
All in all a good experience and left me reasonably happy. The lady in the office was very patient with me and coped well with my ignorance!9/10
Dorset   Sherbourne   C & S Meats
No.  views    1
Comments
+ Used them for several years for pigs, cows and sheep. They have a butchery attached and I cannot recommend them too highly. Small, friendly and very helpful.
East Sussex   Heathfield   Tottingworth Farms
No.  views    4
Comments
+ We have used them for many years for slaughtering and since they put in the on site butchery, I use them for cutting; both lambs and pigs. I give them a big fat 9 out of 10 !
Good service, happy to recommend
East Yorkshire   Bubwith   J A Mounfield
No.  views    1
Comments
+have always done me well and would be my preferred option of the four different ones I have used in the past. Pigs, sheep, goats & cattle, killed and cut on site, no packing/processing, good lairage and a long established family business.
very good small slaughter house. I am happy my stock get the best possible care whilst with them
East Yorkshire   Driffield   James White Butchers
No.  views    1
Comments
+10/10 - Small family run abattoir/butcher that only slaughter on Mondays. I can't speak highly enough of them.
Gloucestershire   Cinderford   Ensors Gloucester
No.  views    2
Comments
+Drive in, open tail gate, unload, close, drive out. No reversing, one pig or a lorry load, very reasonable prices, helpful to an idiot, packed to your requirements, great sausage, bacon and gammon, too.
Hampshire   Basingstoke   Laverstoke Abattoir
No.  views    1
Comments
+ 10/10 for animal welfare, 3/10 for administration (but that's a lot better than the other way round). Their cutting is not cheap (up to £0.95 per kg) but it's good and everything comes vac packed, weighed, labelled, bar coded etc. They also do organic, I strongly recommend the place.
Herefordshire   Leintwardine   A H Griffiths
No.  views    2
Comments
+ A very small abattoir with a smashing butcher's shop. sausages they do for us are marvelous ,but always need to ask for offal
Highland   Granton on Spey   R Miller Ltd.
No.  views    1
Comments
+ I was impressed by them. Very friendly and helpful and very quiet and calm (tho I guess having to take the hoggets there for 7am helped with the quiet bit!). They also hung and butchered them. They specialise in private kills
Kent   Canterbury   JR Farmmeats
No.  views    1
Comments
+ Good abbatoir
Kent   Southborough   Forge Farms
No.  views    2
Comments
+ Good
- Not very friendly staff
Kent   Tonbridge   Ken Ballard
No.  views    1
Comments
+ Small Abattoir, entrance between shop and next door, so need to be able to reverse trailer
Lincolnshire   Boston   A Wright
No.  views    1
Comments
+ Very good. They helped me fill in the paperwork and allowed me to see anything I wanted. The staff were kind to the pigs and I didn't see a stick or anything other than a pig board for guidance. The guy there helped me to unload the pigs and then I stayed with them inside in the pen. I wasn't made to feel in the way.
Mid Glamorgan   Maesteg   Maddock & Kembury
No.  views    1
Comments
+ Excellent place we send all our private kill pigs there and lambs. Family run, very helpful and always accomdating, top quality service. Make excellent sausages to.
Monmouthshire   Raglan   N S James
No.  views    1
Comments
+ Would Recommend
Norfolk   Kings lynn   J E Howard
No.  views    1
Comments
+ good but book well in advance
North Lanarkshire   Wishaw   Wishaw Abattoir
No.  views    1
Comments
+ Happy to recommend
North Yorkshire   Kilburn   C R Horner
No.  views    1
Comments
+ Family run, private kills but check well in advance as they do get busy specially Easter & Xmas (i book Xmas pigs in in August!!) They only kill for me and my butcher collects but they will cut if asked.(they do my firnd's lambs beautifully) Steep hill on way to village which can be tricky in winter so drops them to 9/10
Oxfordshire   Witney   Mutchmeats
No.  views    2
Comments
+ Would recommend
Shropshire   Daysdrove   Bishops Castle
No.  views    2
Comments
+ would recommend
Suffolk   Long Melford   H Ruse
No.  views    1
Comments
+ V.Good
Warwickshire   Coventry   C H Rowley
No.  views    1
Comments
+ Small family run place with village butchers shop on site as well. Was very impressed with the set up - had been recommended to them by two people. Kill and cut to our spec for £40 and sausages at £1 / lb extra. Just got home with 110lb of meat and 45lb of sausages! Seem very busy, and have booked our next four in for December already to guarantee a place.
West Sussex   Henfield   Southern Traditional Meats
No.  views    1
Comments
+ Very good, friendly allowed viewing of the slaughter, extremely professional and good communication, I will be sending all my pigs through them in the future! 9/10 - because they are a little expensive for cutting
West Yorkshire   Leeds   John Penny & Sons
No.  views    1
Comments
+ Very helpful for newbies
Wrexham   Rhosllanerchrugog   D & J Thomas
No.  views    2
Comments
+ I have always been very happy with their respectful handling of my animals, there is very little waiting involved (I think they have only once been penned for about half an hour before slaughter) and there is no problem about watching the slaughter procedure if you wish to do so. The butchery side is excellent - they ask if they don't understand anything you have asked for, the meat is beautifully boxed and wrapped and their bacon/gammon is delish. The price has always been very reasonable too, and the service is always pleasant and courteous. I couldn't recommend them too highly.
- My own experience here wasn't so good: One of the pigs had a huge haematoma on it's hind quarter when returned. That can't happen post mortem. We also didn't get our own offal or heads back. Maybe a one off but we haven't been back to risk it again.
www.Oaklandspigs.co.uk
"Perfect Pigs" the complete guide to keeping pigs; One Day Pig Courses in South East;
Weaners for sale - Visit our site for details

 

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