BLC shuts Sitra abattoir, stops importing livestock

Manama : Economic reasons pushed Bahrain Livestock Company (BLC) to halt importing livestock and shutdown the company’s slaughterhouse in Sitra.

The company said in a statement issued on Sunday: “At its Meeting the Board of Bahrain Livestock Company, BLC reviewed a report of a specialised agribusiness and food consultants, who advised that the importing livestock and maintaining the slaughter isn’t commercially viable.”   

“BLC General Manager Blair Brice stated that in view of this, the Board found that there is no commercial viability in continuing with operations at its Central Abattoir in Sitra. Thus, it was resolved on principal to discontinue the operation in May, as soon as the existing inventory of Live Australian Sheep currently in the Sitra feedlot, were finished,” the statement read.

On another point, BLC GM indicated that “the company will continue in the coming period to import and market different types of high quality chilled and frozen meat from reliable suppliers for the local market at competitive prices.”

“Since the subsidy on meat was discontinued in October last year, there have been several other traders that are also importing and distributing meat into the market,” the company added.