Roving slaughter trailers blaze new path for meat processing

By Candace Krebs

Ag Journal
October 19, 2010

FT. COLLINS, Colo - Livestock are routinely trucked to slaughter plants. Now agricultural leaders are looking into whether another option would be for mobile slaughter trailers to travel to them.

The idea has people talking around the country.

"At the National State Departments of Agriculture Convention recently, this topic came up more than once," said John Stulp, Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture. "I really think it's a niche that can grow."

A high level of interest was evident when the Colorado and Wyoming ag departments along with the land grant colleges in the two states teamed up to present a workshop on mobile slaughter at Colorado State's Taylor Conference Center just north of Fort Collins. Modeled after another seminar held recently in Maryland, the event drew 150 people, about three times the attendance organizers initially anticipated. Participants came from multiple states, including Ohio, New York and California.

"We want to connect people and also help them understand the rules and regulations," said Tim Larsen, senior international marketing specialist for the Colorado ag department and lead organizer.

Full text: http://tinyurl.com/2g5574z