Mobile slaughter

Powerpoint Templates Page 1Powerpoint Templates
Mobile slaughterhouses
for sheep and goats,
advantages and challenges,
United States
SUSAN SCHOENIAN
Sheep & Goat Specialist
University of Maryland Extension
Keedysville, Maryland USA
sschoen@umd.edu – www.sheepandgoat.com

Powerpoint Templates Page 2
Slaughter options in US
On-farm
No
inspection
Own
consumption
Open to
interpretation
Custom
exempt
Facilities
inspected
For owner’s
consumption
Not for
resale
State
inspection
Federal-state
cooperation
“At least
equal to”
federal
inspection
New policy
allows
interstate
sales
Federal
inspection
Can sell
meat if
labeled
No
restrictions
Inspection ensures wholesomeness of products
Includes inspection of facility and animals (ante and post-mortem)

• In order to sell meat (by
the cut) to the end
consumer (without
restrictions) livestock
must be slaughtered
and processed in a
facility inspected by
the United States
Department of
Agriculture (USDA).

The U.S. Meat Industry
• The four largest firms
account for a significant
portion of the slaughter of
beef, pork, and lamb.
• Since 1980, there has
been a significant decline
in the number of USDA-
inspected slaughter
facilities.
1,627 → 1,051 facilities

USDA-inspected slaughter
• Producers in some
states have few
options for USDA-
inspected slaughter,
so livestock have to
be sold live (for less
income) or hauled
significant distances
before they can be
slaughtered.

• Many existing USDA-
inspected slaughter
plants will not
slaughter for small
and independent
producers … or they
have significant
limitations on
slaughter.

• Some existing USDA-
inspected facilities will
not process sheep
and/or goats.
• Many existing facilities
will not do Halal or
Kosher slaughter or
other specialized
slaughter.

U.S. food trends
• There is a palpable
mistrust of traditional
agriculture and a growing
demand for meat that is
locally-produced in a
specific manner, such as:
• Organic
• Naturally-raised
• Grass-fed
• Humane-certified

Market access
• The only way to tap these
specialty and high-end
markets is to have access to
USDA-inspected slaughter and
processing.
• Direct marketing eliminates
middlemen and allows many
small and medium-size
producers to increase their
incomes and remain
economically viable.

USDA’s role
• Shifting attention to
small and medium
size farms.
• Encouraging organic
and sustainable
production.
• Investing in local food
projects.

What is a mobile slaughterhouse?
• A self-contained slaughter unit that can
travel from site to site.
Image source: www.mobileslaughter.com

Advantages to mobile slaughter
• More humane
Livestock do not have to
be hauled long distances.
• Better quality meat
There is less stress at
the time of harvest.
• More acceptable to
the public - “NIMBY”
• Adds a value chain
to the local economy.

Challenges to mobile slaughter
• Subject to the same
regulatory standards as
fixed slaughterhouses.
• Each slaughter site requires:
1. Potable water
2. Waste disposal
3. Trailer accommodation
4. Corrals and handling system

Space limitations
• Operations are usually
limited to slaughter and
initial processing and
chilling.
• Unit must association
itself with a cut-and-wrap
facility that can age the
meat and further process
the carcass into retail
cuts and products.

Other limitations
• Geographic
How far should unit travel?
• Weather
• Road conditions
• Farm conditions

Mobile slaughter of sheep and goats
• It is usually not necessary
to age lamb and goat
carcasses.
• There are markets for
whole lamb and goat
carcasses.
• Lamb and goat slaughter
does require as much
space.
• Ethnic customers usually
require minimal processing.

Cost
• Less expensive than a fixed
slaughterhouse, but still
costly to build.
Est. $190,000 - $250,000 US
• Can be costly to comply with
the myriad of local, state, and
federal regulations.
– Some states have more
stringent regulations which can
substantially increase start-up
and operating costs.

Funding
• Most mobile slaughter
units in the U.S. have
been paid for with a
combination of public
and private funds.
– Grants
– Economic development
– Donations
– Investors

Funding sources
PUBLIC
• Expect a social benefit
from their investment.
– Strengthen local food
infrastructure.
– Economic development
(jobs)
• Value-added opportunity
• Revitalize region’s
livestock industry.
PRIVATE
• Expect a return on their
investment.
• Example business plan
Full capacity
5 years to pay off investment
Breakeven point
20 years to pay off investment

Mobile slaughter in the U.S.
Owner/operator Location Capacity Year
Island-Grown Farmers Cooperative
San Juan Islands
Washington
9-10 beef
24 hogs
40 sheep
2002
Central Coast Agricultural Cooperative Central California
5-6 beef
10 hogs
10 lambs/goats
2009
2011
Puget Sound Meat Producers
Cooperative
Western
Washington
8-10 animal
units
2009
Module Harvest System™
Local Infrastructure for Local Agriculture
New York
Hudson Valley
20 cattle
More sheep
and goats
new
Taos County Economic
Development Corporation
New Mexico 5 to 24 animals 2007
Nebraska Prairie Harvest Project
Callicrate Cattle Company
Nebraska
10 cattle or
equivalent
new
Source: eXtension.org
Red meat (large animals)

Case studies: Washington state
ISLAND GROWN
• Funded with grants and
private donations.
• Owned and operated by a
cooperative
• Began operating in 2002.
• Operates at individual farms
• Meat is transported to cut-and-
wrap facility on mainland.
PUGET SOUND
• Funded by Pierce County
Conservation District and
leased to cooperative.
• Began operating in 2009
• Operates at fixed venues
• Meat is transported to two cut-
and-wrap facilities.

California – Central Coast
• Timeline
– Built in 2002 with federal funds
– Sat idle for 7 years
– Began operating in 2009
Struggled to stay busy enough
– Closed and re-opened in 2011
– Now leased to small butcher who
also does further processing.
• State of California has more
stringent regulations.
– No on-farm composting of waste
– More restrictive on slaughter sites

Other units in operation
NEBRASKA
• Built by
Nebraska
Environmental
Coalition.
• Operated
by Callicrate
Cattle Co.
NEW MEXICO
• Built by Taos County
Economic Development
Corporation.
• Part of a larger vision of
developing a community-
based food model.

Module Harvest System™
• Owned and operated
by Local Infrastructure
for Local Agriculture.
• Combines four modules
1. Refrigerated truck for harvest and
initial chilling
2. Refrigerated truck for temporary storage
and hauling to cut-and-wrap plant
3. Truck to handle waste
4. USDA office trailer
• Fixed docking stations.

Conclusions
• Mobile slaughter units
are not a panacea
(“quick fix”) for small
scale meat processing
in the U.S.
• They may work in
some situations, but
not others.

Conclusions
• They may require a
public-private
partnership in order
to be economically
viable.
• There are no long
term success stories
in the U.S. (yet).

Resources
• Niche Meat Processors Assistance Network
www.nichemeatprocessing.org
• Mobile slaughter/processing units @eXtension
http://www.extension.org/pages/19234/mobile-
slaughterprocessing-units
• The Module Harvest System™: a case study
http://www.lila-northeast.org/index.html
• Mobile slaughter unit
www.mobileslaughter.com
• Spirit of Humane
www.spiritofhumane.com

Questions? Thank you for your attention.

Mobile slaughter

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