Mobile slaughter/processing units have been getting attention in recent years as a potentially expedient way to bring access to inspected processing to a community or region. Why are they popular? First, they are typically less expensive to build than stationary facilities. Second, by traveling from farm to farm, they allow on-farm slaughter, which many people consider the most humane approach because the animals don't have to be trucked anywhere.
We have quite a few pages about many different aspects of mobile units. Here are some short cuts to finding them. You can also search our Meat Processing Index.
Mobile slaughter/processing units currently in operation
This list gives some basic data about the units, with links to other info.
Know others? Tell us! Contact us
Mobile Slaughter Unit Videos
These three short videos show how a USDA-inspected mobile slaughter unit works. The videos feature the Island Grown Farmers Cooperative MSU in Washington state.
Webinars about Mobile Units
Mobile Processing Units: What's the State of the Art?
This webinar offers a detailed look at two mobile units, one for red meat and one for poultry, and explains a useful cost calculator to gauge operational costs. (NMPAN webinar: December 2008)
Mobile Poultry Processing Units in CA, MT, and VT
Coordinators of three new mobile poultry processing units explain how the units work and discuss challenges, strategies, and lessons learned in bringing these units on line. (NMPAN webinar: October 2009)
USDA-FSIS Webinars on Mobile Units
These two webinars, offered by USDA's Food Safety Inspection Service, explain red meat and poultry mobile slaughter units. Presentations cover technical and practical aspects, regulatory compliance, and financial assistance programs (January 2010).
Considerations Unique to Mobile Red Meat Slaughter
Building and operating a USDA-inspected mobile slaughter unit can require creative approaches to regulatory compliance, because federal regulations are based on fixed facilities.
In this presentation, Greg Sherman, DVM, with USDA's Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS), uses two USDA-inspected mobile, red-meat facilities in WA to highlight common issues and how they were solved.
Topics include inspection, the facility itself, water, staffing, pest and rodent control, bleeding and inedibles control, sanitary dressing, and personal issues.
This presentation was part of the FSIS webinar Red Meat Mobile Slaughter Units, given January 20, 2010.
Click here for Dr. Sherman's presentation.
Mobile Unit Design: Wall Elevations & Ceiling/Floor Plans
These plans are included as linked PDFs in the Island Grown Farmers Cooperative Case Study; see below.
Feasibility Analysis for a Mobile Slaughter Unit
This is the calculator described in the webinar; it is based on a USDA-inspected unit operating in southeastern Washington.
cost estimates for the mobile units & stationary fabrication facility
A feasibility study done by University of Nevada/Reno details construction and operational costs for two mobile units and a stationary fabrication facility, planned for Nevada but as yet unbuilt.
Who builds mobile processing units?
- A list of the companies that build the actual trailers.
www.mobileslaughter.com
- Mobile slaughter unit pioneer and NMPAN Advisory Board member Bruce Dunlop shares photos, specifications, and equipment needs for mobile units.
Case Study: Island Grown Farmers Cooperative
This case study describes the first USDA-inspected mobile slaughter unit in the U.S., in the San Juan Islands of Washington State. It includes photos AND actual MPU designs, as linked PDFs.
Case Study: Kentucky Mobile Poultry Processing Unit
This case study describes in detail the mobile poultry processing unit operated by University of Kentucky.
Case Study: Coast Grown Mobile Harvest Unit
This case study describes a USDA-inspected mobile slaughter unit (4-legged species), operating in the Central Coast region of California. It began operations in mid-2009.
