WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service will conduct a red meat mobile slaughter unit information session for small producers and processors Oct. 7 at Colorado State University's Taylor Conference Center, Fort Collins, Colo.

This information session is designed to educate farmers, ranchers and processors on how to operate mobile-slaughter units and meet USDA food-safety requirements. The session is part of USDA's “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” initiative.


"This information session will educate small producers and processors on establishing mobile slaughter units and how to ensure the safety of the products so that they can receive the USDA federal mark of inspection," said Alfred Almanza, FSIS administrator.

Mobile slaughter units are self-contained slaughter facilities that travel from site to site. The units typically provide slaughter services to regional small producers at conveniently located host farms. FSIS-inspected mobile-slaughter units provide a feasible option for small livestock producers wanting to provide safe, wholesome meat products to local and interstate consumer markets, the agency said. These mobile units can be used for cattle, hogs, goats and sheep.

For more information, go to:www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Meetings_&_Events/.