Study to look at slaughterhouse for Skye and Lochalsh A STUDY into how a small-scale slaughterhouse can be built for Skye and Lochalsh is to be carried out. The Scottish Crofting Federation last year formed a working group to look at ways of providing an abattoir service after a gap of over twenty years. Currently crofters and farmers in the region have to transport animals for slaughter to Dingwall, a journey of up to three and a half hours, or even take them by ferry to Lochmaddy. The Scottish Government has now agreed to fund a study into options for funding, building and operating a small-scale slaughtering and processing facility which would be co-operatively owned and operated. The study will be carried out by a Scottish Agricultural College team led by Portree-based senior consultant Siobhan Macdonald. SCF's Crofting Resources Programme manager Donald Murdie said, "We are delighted that the Scottish Government is to fund this work, and that we will have the expertise of SAC to deliver it. Previous feasibility studies have envisaged a full-time, industrial-scale meat plant, which clearly would not be viable. The aim of this study is to produce costed plans for a facility appropriate in scale and ownership structure, with a flexible operating strategy able to respond to seasonal demand. The resulting report will be made freely available to other groups of producers wishing to develop their own small-scale abattoir facilities. SAC's Siobhan Macdonald said: "SAC are delighted to work with SCF to investigate a model for a micro-abattoir. Such a venture needs careful consideration, but could provide opportunities for crofters and farmers to reach new markets and add value to stock reared in this area of high nature value farming.