Cobolux aims to maintain its animal procurement and processing operations by redirecting slaughtering activities to Ettelbruck or Wittlich in Germany. Negotiations with local producers are underway to finalise these arrangements, Paul Faltz, head of Cobolux, said during an interview with our colleagues from RTL Télé.
Over the past few years, weekly slaughter volumes in Wecker have experienced a notable decline. Whereas 600 pigs and 150 cattle were processed each week three to four years ago, the numbers have since dropped to 400 pigs and 110 to 120 cattle, respectively, Faltz explained.
According to the Cobolux head, the decrease in livestock production in Luxembourg can be attributed to two key factors. Firstly, the aging farming population and the absence of successors have led many farmers to discontinue their agricultural operations. Secondly, a gradual decline in meat consumption, not only in Luxembourg but throughout Europe, has impacted the industry.
This sentiment is echoed by Eric Pesch, a pig farmer, who highlights changing attitudes towards animal husbandry and the challenges posed by price fluctuations.
Pesch said that he was “quite surprised” when he first heard about Cobolux’s decision and is not enthusiastic about taking his pigs abroad. In light of animal welfare concerns, he thinks that short transport distances should be an important criterion. While Wittlich is not exceedingly far away - for Pesch it is about 1 hour 20 minutes by lorry - the farmer argues that it is undeniably further away compared to the 50-minute drive to Cobolux.
Minister of Agriculture Claude Haagen, on the other hand, remains confident that Luxembourg is not becoming too dependent on foreign countries.
Haagen asserts that the Ettelbruck abattoir has sufficient capacity to accommodate the workload previously handled by Wecker. Nonetheless, investments in the Ettelbruck facility are being considered to secure its future as a crucial infrastructure within Luxembourg’s agricultural landscape.
Full report by RTL Télé (in Luxembourgish)
