Lambs to the slaughter

SOME 52,000 animals – pigs, lambs and cattle – are expected to be killed at the government’s main abattoir in Kofinou, this year for Easter banquet dishes, slaughter house officials said yesterday.

This figure does not include the number of animals going onto the block at smaller government abattoirs on the island, they said.

The 52,000 figure includes 27,000 pigs, 24,000 lambs and 1,000 cattle, they said, adding the figure was similar to the number of animals butchered last year at Kofinou for Easter.

Abattoir employees have been working overtime since last Friday to dress enough carcasses to ensure there will be no shortages of lamb, beef and pork in the island’s shops before they close after business today for the long Easter weekend.

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