1. Mobile slaughterhousesfor sheep and goats,advantages and challenges,United StatesSUSAN SCHOENIANSheep & Goat SpecialistUniversity of Maryland ExtensionKeedysville, Maryland USAsschoen@umd.edu www.sheepandgoat.comPowerpoint Templates Page 1

2. Slaughter options in US Custom StateFederal On-farm exemptinspectioninspectionCan sell NoFacilitiesFederal-state inspection inspected cooperationmeat iflabeled At least Own For owners equal to NoconsumptionconsumptionfederalrestrictionsinspectionNew policy Open to Not forallowsinterpretation resale interstatesalesInspection ensures wholesomeness of productsIncludes inspection of facility and animals (ante and post-mortem) Powerpoint Templates Page 2 3. 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).Powerpoint Templates Page 3 4. The U.S. Meat Industry The four largest firmsaccount for a significantportion of the slaughter ofbeef, pork, and lamb. Since 1980, there hasbeen a significant declinein the number of USDA-inspected slaughterfacilities. 1,627 1,051 facilitiesPowerpoint Templates Page 4 5. USDA-inspected slaughter Producers in somestates have fewoptions for USDA-inspectedslaughter, so livestockhave to be sold live(for less income) orhauled significantdistances before theycan be slaughtered. Powerpoint Templates Page 5 6. USDA-inspected slaughter Many existing USDA-inspected slaughterplants will notslaughter for smalland independentproducers or theyhave significantlimitations onslaughter.Powerpoint Templates Page 6 7. USDA-inspected slaughter Some existing USDA-inspected facilities willnot process sheepand/or goats. Many existing facilitieswill not do Halal orKosher slaughter orother specializedslaughter. Powerpoint Templates Page 7 8. U.S. food trends There is a palpablemistrust of traditionalagriculture and a growingdemand for meat that islocally-produced in aspecific manner, such as: Organic Naturally-raised Grass-fed Humane-certifiedPowerpoint Templates Page 8 9. Market access The only way to tap thesespecialty and high-endmarkets is to have access toUSDA-inspected slaughter andprocessing. Direct marketing eliminatesmiddlemen and allows manysmall and medium-sizeproducers to increase theirincomes and remaineconomically viable. Powerpoint Templates Page 9 10. USDAs role Shifting attention tosmall and mediumsize farms. Encouraging organicand sustainableproduction. Investing in local foodprojects. Powerpoint Templates Page 10 11. What is a mobile slaughterhouse? A self-contained slaughter unit that cantravel from site to site.Image source: www.mobileslaughter.comPowerpoint TemplatesPage 11 12. Advantages to mobile slaughter More humaneLivestock do not have tobe hauled long distances. Better quality meatThere is less stress atthe time of harvest. More acceptable tothe public - NIMBY Adds a value chainto the local economy.Powerpoint Templates Page 12 13. 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 systemPowerpoint Templates Page 13 14. Space limitations Operations are usuallylimited to slaughter andinitial processing andchilling. Unit must associationitself with a cut-and-wrapfacility that can age themeat and further processthe carcass into retailcuts and products. Image source: www.mobileslaughter.com Powerpoint TemplatesPage 14 15. Other limitations GeographicHow far should unit travel? Weather Road conditions Farm conditionsPowerpoint Templates Page 15 16. Mobile slaughter of sheep and goats It is usually not necessaryto age lamb and goatcarcasses. There are markets forwhole lamb and goatcarcasses. Lamb and goat slaughterdoes require as muchspace. Ethnic customers usuallyrequire minimal processing. Powerpoint Templates Page 16 17. Cost Less expensive than a fixedslaughterhouse, but stillcostly to build.Est. $190,000 - $250,000 US Can be costly to comply withthe myriad of local, state, andfederal regulations. Some states have more stringent regulations which can substantially increase start-up Image source: www.mobileslaughter.com and operating costs. Powerpoint Templates Page 17 18. Funding Most mobile slaughterunits in the U.S. havebeen paid for with acombination of publicand private funds. Grants Economic development Donations InvestorsPowerpoint Templates Page 18 19. Funding sourcesPUBLIC Expect a social benefitfrom their investment.PRIVATE Strengthen local food infrastructure. Expect a return on their Economic development investment. (jobs) Example business plan Value-added opportunity Full capacity Revitalize regions 5 years to pay off investmentlivestock industry. Breakeven point 20 years to pay off investmentPowerpoint Templates Page 19 20. Mobile slaughter in the U.S.Red meat (large animals) Owner/operator Location CapacityYear 9-10 beefSan Juan Islands Island-Grown Farmers Cooperative24 hogs 2002Washington 40 sheep 5-6 beef 2009 Central Coast Agricultural Cooperative Central California 10 hogs 2011 10 lambs/goats Puget Sound Meat Producers Western8-10 animal 2009 CooperativeWashington units 20 cattle Module Harvest System New York More sheepnew Local Infrastructure for Local Agriculture Hudson Valley and goats Taos County EconomicNew Mexico 5 to 24 animals 2007 Development Corporation Nebraska Prairie Harvest Project10 cattle orNebraska new Callicrate Cattle Company equivalent Source: eXtension.org Powerpoint TemplatesPage 20 21. Case studies: Washington state ISLAND GROWN PUGET SOUND Funded with grants and Funded by Pierce County private donations. Conservation District and Owned and operated by aleased to cooperative. cooperative Began operating in 2009 Began operating in 2002. Operates at fixed venues Operates at individual farms Meat is transported to two cut- Meat is transported to cut-and-and-wrap facilities. wrap facility on mainland.Powerpoint Templates Page 21 22. 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 morestringent regulations. No on-farm composting of waste More restrictive on slaughter sites Powerpoint Templates Page 22 23. Other units in operation NEW MEXICO NEBRASKA Built by Taos County Economic Development Corporation. Built byNebraska Part of a larger vision ofEnvironmentaldeveloping a community-Coalition. based food model. Operatedby CallicrateCattle Co.Powerpoint TemplatesPage 23 24. Module Harvest System Owned and operatedby Local Infrastructurefor Local Agriculture. Combines four modules1. Refrigerated truck for harvest and initial chilling2. Refrigerated truck for temporary storage and hauling to cut-and-wrap plant3. Truck to handle waste4. USDA office trailer Fixed docking stations.Powerpoint Templates Page 24 25. Conclusions Mobile slaughter unitsare not a panacea(quick fix) for smallscale meat processingin the U.S. They may work insome situations, butnot others.Powerpoint Templates Page 25 26. Conclusions They may require apublic-privatepartnership in orderto be economicallyviable. There are no longterm success storiesin the U.S. (yet).Powerpoint Templates Page 26 27. Resources Niche Meat Processors Assistance Networkwww.nichemeatprocessing.org Mobile slaughter/processing units @eXtensionhttp://www.extension.org/pages/19234/mobile-slaughterprocessing-units The Module Harvest System: a case studyhttp://www.lila-northeast.org/index.html Mobile slaughter unitwww.mobileslaughter.com Spirit of Humanewww.spiritofhumane.com Powerpoint TemplatesPage 27 28. Questions?Thank you for your attention. Powerpoint Templates Page 28