Producers who sell live animals directly off their farm may encounter customers interested in having the animal slaughtered on the farm. Customers with this request often have traditional or religious backgrounds that require special slaughter methods for the meat they consume. This situation more often occurs with the sale of goats and lambs but may occur with other species as well. There are a few regulations that a producer should know and understand concerning on-farm slaughter.

Slaughter by a producer for the customer would be considered a “custom” slaughter activity. Custom slaughter must occur in approved and inspected facilities such as a local meat locker. In this instance, custom slaughter facilities must comply with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s (TDA) regulations for custom slaughter including the federal Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)* as outlined by the Food and Drug Administration. When it comes to whether a customer can legally harvest the animal on the farm, no TDA regulations related to slaughter or inspection exist. The producer will still need to determine how to appropriately dispose of offal, being sure to comply with environmental regulations.

Other issues may arise pertaining to the product and landowner liability. Producers should understand that they may be taking on additional liability risk in the event of an injury to a customer during the harvest process or sickness of the customer due to consumption of the meat product.

For more information on your particular situation, you are encouraged to contact the TDA Regulatory Services Division Food and Dairy Administrator at (615) 837-5177 or the Food Manufacturing Administrator at (615) 837-5534. You may be able to obtain additional information by contacting TDA Regulatory Services Division at the address below. Food Manufacturing Administrator (or Food and Dairy Administrator) Regulatory Services Division Ellington Agricultural Center Box 40627, Melrose Station Nashville, TN 37204 tennessee.gov/agriculture/regulate/contact.html
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* Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) as defined by the Food and Drug Administration in 21 CFR Part 110 are the minimum sanitary and processing requirements for food companies.