Beef Cattle Farming Expands in Bierzo Despite Slaughterhouse Closure
Bierzo's cattle farming sector expands with new farms, facing challenges from Toreno slaughterhouse's closure awaiting technical review for reopening.
- • Beef cattle farming in Bierzo expanded with 15 new farms, reaching 335 active farms.
- • The only slaughterhouse in Toreno closed in April 2024 due to management irregularities.
- • Mayor Vicente Mirón awaits a technical report to assess reopening the slaughterhouse.
- • 44% of cattle farms are in mining municipalities, crucial for local employment.
- • Asaja reports managing nearly half of cattle farming files in León and notes increased agricultural applications.
Key details
The beef cattle industry in Spain's Bierzo region is witnessing robust growth with the registration of 15 new farms in the past year, increasing the total number of active cattle production and reproduction farms to 335. This expansion underscores the sector's vital role in the local economy, particularly in mining municipalities that have transitioned towards livestock farming to create employment opportunities for younger residents.
However, this burgeoning sector faces significant challenges due to the closure of the region's sole slaughterhouse in Toreno in April 2024. The facility was shut down because of management irregularities, creating a bottleneck for local producers who rely on this infrastructure to process their livestock. Mayor Vicente Mirón of Toreno is currently awaiting a technical report from the Junta de Castilla y León to evaluate the conditions and necessary investments for potentially reopening the slaughterhouse. The closure, which has persisted nearly two years, has generated mounting frustration among farmers.
Mining municipalities like Palacios del Sil and Páramo del Sil are notable leaders in new farm registrations, while other traditional cattle territories such as Vega de Valcarce and Balboa continue to contribute strongly. Local agricultural union Asaja reports managing about 50% of cattle farming files in the province of León and has received 184 applications for the Common Agricultural Policy (PAC) in the last year, confirming the sector's upward trajectory and the pressing need to reinstate essential infrastructure. The growth of cattle farming in Bierzo is transforming the local economy, yet restoring the slaughterhouse remains critical for sustained development and profitability.
This article was translated and synthesized from Spanish sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
