Scottish government grant for Dalbeattie abattoir
A south west of Scotland firm has been awarded a £1.3m Scottish government grant towards the cost of an abattoir.
The vast majority of livestock produced in the region is currently slaughtered in other parts of the UK.
The new Dumfries and Galloway Food Co-operative abattoir will be located at Craignair, near Dalbeattie.
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead hopes the "investment will provide an excellent boost for Scotland's red meat sector".
Mr Lochhead said: "By providing a slaughter and meat processing facility, the new Dalbeattie abattoir will provide Dumfries and Galloway farmers and butchers with a local option instead of having to ship their livestock out of the area.
"As well as savings on haulage costs, there will also be environmental benefits thanks to the reduction in food miles.
"Local abattoirs play an important part in the food chain and this grant clearly demonstrates our commitment that animals should be slaughtered as close to where they are reared as possible."
Scotland's farming union said the scheme could help individual farmers "engage more directly with their customers".
NFU Scotland chief executive Scott Walker added: "This is a positive development that gives livestock farmers in the area greater choice in the way they can market their stock."