Is poultry the only livestock meat you can process and sell off the farm?

[DanIndiana]

I know the USDA has the 1,000 bird exemption, etc. Are there any similar exemptions for other livestock (like goats)? I can't find anything that says you can legally process and sell any other livestock off you farm besides poultry.
Thanks

 

[LilyD]

I think at least in my state that anything other than poultry ( duck, turkey, chicken etc) we have to take any other animals to a FDA approved processing site. Ours is Vermont Livestock Slaughter and Processing about 20 minutes from us. They process it and if we want they will actually sell the meat for us. They do pretty much any kind of animal or wild game in the area.

 

[PotterWatch]

We sell people live animals that are slaughtered here on the farm and then aged, cut, and wrapped at a local butcher.

 

[DanIndiana]

It just seems that with such tight profits in any meat enterprise, that not being required to pay a processor is a huge advantage to going with poultry over other livestock, at least for a small-timer. We have been selling eggs for a bit, and some people are starting to ask about meat. I love the simplicity of being able to put a sign out in the yard and seeing if the demand is there, and it's all nice and legal.

 

[jessicayarno]

Do you have to have the area where you process, inspected? I sell meat chickens and have been taking them to a local processor, but would like to start doing it myself. Just wondering if you have to have a certain set-up??

 

[PotterWatch]

It depends on the laws for your state. My state follows USDA guidelines which aren't very specific. They say that you must process in a "sanitary manner", but there is no definition of "sanitary". We do all our processing outdoors but we do use stainless steel tables that can be kept very clean.

 

[r4eboxer]

Your local extension office should be able to answer your questions. As most states have different laws. My State DA has a nice website that gives all the answers to the questions you have posted. I don't live in your state so I can't answer your questions. Do a google search of your state and Department of Agriculture and I'm sure you will find the answers on that site.

 

[jessicayarno]

Thank you, I went through some paperwork that I printed off and it states that "small scale" poultry farming doesn't require inspections in Idaho and that I just have to use "sanitary" procedures when processing.

 

[Smiles-N-Sunshine]

We've done well with meat rabbits. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Factsheets/Rabbit_from_Farm_to_Table/index.asp

USDA inspections of rabbit meat are voluntary, so the concern is with state and local laws. I sell live animals only, then deliver live or butchered (customer's choice).