UTAH to Allow Private Custom Meat Plants to Slaughter and Process Livestock for Commercial Sale
April 28, 2020
UDAF to Allow Private Custom Meat Plants to Slaughter and Process Livestock for Commercial Sale
Temporary Measure Designed to Partially Make Up for Reduced Production at Commercial Facilities(Salt Lake City)
The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) has taken action to alleviate the stockpile of animals from farms and ranches waiting to be slaughtered and processed.
“We have invited the 10 qualifying custom exempt slaughter establishments in Utah to come under official inspection by UDAF, which will allow them to handle animals that are intended for commercial sale,” said Logan Wilde, Commissioner, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food.
To this point, custom exempt plants only slaughter animals for private individuals for non-commercial use. If all the custom exempt plants take part in this emergency program it could increase Utah’s processing capacity by at least 10 percent. While animal processing backlogs are not nearly as serious in Utah as other parts of the country, many of our inspected facilities have cut back their hours to limit their employees’ potential exposure to COVID-19. Fewer animals are being processed, which is starting to result in a lack of feed and land for the stockpile of livestock.
“By taking this unprecedented step we are trying to avoid having animals euthanized and not processed for meat, which is what is happening in some parts of the country,” said Commissioner Wilde.
Meat processed by the custom exempt facilities temporarily under state inspection can only be sold in Utah. However, the meat can be sold to grocery stores, restaurants or directly to end users, which may also alleviate potential meat shortages.