Slaughter Options And Issues For Locally Sourced Meat
Demand for local meat is increasing as consumers become concerned with how animals are raised and slaughtered. However, small-scale producers identify the limited availability of local slaughter and processing facilities as a major impediment to making more local meat available. Alternatives such as mobile slaughter units may help meet the demand for local meat, but these entail higher costs. This study is important for animal advocates, as it shows that locally produced meat is not an adequate solution to end factory farming.
Excerpt from Article Abstract:
“Demand for locally sourced meats has increased in recent years, although it remains a small share of total demand. This report evaluates the availability of slaughter and processing facilities for local meat production and the extent to which these may constrain or support growth in demand for locally sourced meats.”
“Findings suggest that access to Federal or State-inspected slaughter and processing facilities is limited in some parts of the country. In addition, alternative small-scale slaughter and processing facilities may not be economically feasible in all areas due to a lack of consistent throughput.”
“Growth in small-scale slaughter and processing facilities depends on whether producers in need of these services can provide enough throughput, for enough of the year, and pay a high enough fee for the services to make such facilities economically viable. This, in turn, depends on the strength of consumer demand for local meats in the coming years.”