Meat Processing Near Me (Interactive Map)

Finding a meat processing center can be challenging, even when searching online. Our list of meat processors only shows butchers who process livestock for customers. It excludes retail and wholesale meat distributors (businesses who sell meat, but don’t process for customers).

Ag Service Finder makes it easy to find a meat processor. Search from hundreds of meat processing services today!

Find a Meat Processing Service Near You

List Your Meat Processing Service on Ag Service Finder

If you own a meat processor, you can also list them to help users find your meat processing business. Ag Service Finder is a leading online directory specifically for agricultural services, offering vital connections between farmers and agricultural producers. You have the opportunity for your meat processors to reach thousands of potential customers each month, showcasing your services to a community actively seeking trusted partners.

There is a straightforward process of getting started with affordable pricing plans, allowing for a basic or enhanced listing with features such as business details, contact information, and photos.

How to Choose a Great Meat Processing Plant

It can be difficult to find a processing plant that fulfills your needs and also impresses you with high quality and great service. Meat processing is a delicate process that requires expertise and skill. To help you find a great meat processing plant, listed below are a few good qualities to look for.

3 Qualities of an Excellent Meat Processing Plant:

When using a meat processing plant there are 3 important qualities to look for:

High-Quality Work
Cleanliness
Availability

These qualities are very important and should be considered before choosing to do business with a processing plant.

Read below why these qualities make for an excellent meat processing plant…

1. High-Quality Work

Everyone expects great quality from their meat processing plant, but unfortunately, not all processing plants are equal. You’ll want the job to be done with precision and expertise so you can achieve the best-finished product.

Read online reviews for different processing plants in your area or ask someone who has worked with them before. If you hear that the quality of the product from a processing plant isn’t so great, you should consider looking for another plant.

You can also ask a manager at the plant about their safety procedures and how they ensure a great quality product.

Once you decide on a processing plant to use, closely examine the final product to determine if you want to work with them again.

2. Cleanliness

Cleanliness is a great indicator of a great meat processing plant.

Not only should the facility be kept clean for health reasons, but it also gives you an idea of the quality of management at the plant.

Ask for a tour of the processing plant before bringing your animals.

3. Availability

Depending on your area, it could be difficult to find a processing plant that is able to quickly accept your animal(s). Some processing plants are backed up with customers.

Some plants may require you to join a waiting list, so plan ahead or find a meat processing plant that is ready to take your animals now.

Questions to Ask a Meat Processing Plant Before Doing Business

Are you USDA or state-inspected?
How long are you booked into the future?
How do you price your services?
What are your cleaning procedures for the facility?
How long have you been in business?

Also check out these frequently asked questions about meat processing:

How much does it cost to process a cow?
How much meat do you get from a 1,000 lb. cow?
How much does it cost to butcher a pig?
How much meat do you get from a 250 lb. pig?
How can I legally sell meat?
What is custom-exempt slaughter?
How much does it cost to get deer processed?

How much does it cost to process a cow?

Before processing your beef, you’ll want to have an idea of how much it will cost to have it processed.

The truth is, the cost will vary depending on multiple factors, such as the weight of your animal and the cuts you order. Additionally, not all meat processors charge the same rates, therefore you’ll need to contact one directly for an accurate quote.

Regardless, you can roughly expect the cost of processing a cow to be $50-150 for slaughter and $0.95 per pound (hanging weight) for the base processing fee.

Additional “per pound” processing fees will be added for the cuts you order and other services you select, such as curing and smoking.

Check out these price lists from various meat processors to get a better idea of beef processing prices:

Contact a meat processor near you to see prices in your area!

How much meat do you get from a 1,000 lb. cow?

Not all of your cow’s weight will end up in the finished product. This weight loss is a result of many factors, including the draining of the blood and the discarding of undesirable parts (such as the head and hooves). Even after discarding of these parts, the carcass will continue to lose moisture and decrease in weight.

In the end, your cow will yield roughly 43% of it’s original weight in retail cuts on average. For a 1,000 lb. animal, this is 430 lbs.

This yield percentage represents an average according to Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry. The actual yield will vary depending on multiple factors, such as the breed, fat-to-muscle ratio, and age of the cow.

How much does it cost to butcher a pig?

The cost of butchering your pig will vary depending on many factors, such as the weight of your animal and the cuts you order. Prices also change depending on your location and the meat processor.

An example of the average cost of processing a pig is $50-80 for slaughter and $0.97 per pound (hanging weight) for the base processing fee.

This is just one example of pig processing costs. Pig processing can be priced using various methods. For example, some processors don’t charge a slaughter fee, but charge a higher “per pound” processing fee based off the hanging weight. Other butchers may also price their services based of the pig’s live weight.

The “per pound” processing fee will also increase depending on the cuts you select.

Check with a local meat processor to see how they price their pig processing or use these price lists as examples:

How much meat do you get from a 250 lb. pig?

Some parts of a pig are not used to make meat products, such as the blood and organs.

This means that your pig will not yield the same amount of meat as it’s weight. The carcass will also lose weight due to moisture loss and other factors.

A pig will yield roughly 57% of it’s original weight in retail cuts on average. For a 250 lb. pig, this is 142.5 lbs.

How Can I Legally Sell Meat?

Selling meat is not the same as selling other types of goods. Since meat is highly perishable and has other risks associated with it, it must be handled with proper care and proceedures.

To ensure safe handling, meat must be processed while under USDA inspection in order for the meat to be sold to the public.

Alternatively, an animal can be sold to various owners before processing. After processing, the meat belongs to the owners and is marked “Not for sale.” This reduces costs and means you won’t need to find a USDA-inspected processing plant.

Find a meat processor in your area today and ask about USDA-inspected processing!

What Is Custom Meat Processing?

Custom-exempt processing, commonly referred to as “custom processing,” is a practice used by many to process their meat.

A custom-exempt operation is not subject to continuous federal or state inspection. As a result, the processed meat is for personal use of the owner. It will be labled “Not for sale” and cannot be sold to the public.

Custom processing is most often used for processing wild game, but may also be used for livestock, such as cattle and pigs. The biggest downside for custom processing livestock is the inability to sell the meat afterwards, although there is a loophole.

Since custom processed meat is for personal use of the owner, you can sell the animal, in part or in whole, to new owners prior to processing. Once the animal is processed, the resulting meat will be split among the new owners.

Can I Take Wild Game To A Meat Processor?

Wild game meat processing is another service available in the U.S., where hunters can bring their game animals to be processed. This service is offered by various facilities across the country, such as The Meat Block, which provides year-round wild game processing and uses quality ingredients to produce a variety of meat products. These facilities also operate under different regulations compared to standard meat processing, as they typically handle animals that are not raised in a farming environment. They may offer services such as making sausages, jerky, and other value-added products from wild game.

What is the Role of USDA?

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) plays a crucial role in meat processing through its Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The USDA is responsible for ensuring that the nation’s commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged. It enforces stringent regulations governing sanitary practices, animal welfare, and food safety standards across all meat processing facilities. Continuous government inspection is a cornerstone of its oversight, which is mandatory for all plants that process meat for commercial sale. Additionally, the USDA sets and monitors standards for meat quality, handling, and storage to prevent foodborne illnesses and to maintain consumer confidence in the U.S. meat supply.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Deer Processed?

After the hunt, you may be wondering how much it will cost to get your deer processed.

Although deer processing prices vary, it will typically cost between $50 and $100 for basic deer processing. Additional “per pound” charges may be added on top of that for specialty products, such as sausage, snack sticks, or jerky.

Check out these price lists from various meat processors to get a better idea of deer processing prices:

Almost all meat processors on Ag Service Finder process wild game, such as deer. Find a meat processor near you today!