London/Frankfurt — More than 1,000 workers at European abattoirs have contracted Covid-19, highlighting the growing challenges the global meat industry faces from the pandemic.

In Ireland, 556 workers in 10 meat-processing facilities tested positive as of last week, the nation’s health department said. The Robert Koch Institute, which publishes daily Covid-19 reports in Germany, said there have been outbreaks at plants in three districts. At least two have been shuttered...