RENO, Nev. – Officials with Walker River Meat Processing announced that construction on a new multi-species (hogs, beef, sheep and goats), 300,000 sq.-ft. slaughter/processing plant is scheduled to begin in early 2012. The facility could employ up to 700 employees once running at full capacity by 2015, according to Vincent Estell, CEO. Operations at the plant are expected to begin in mid 2013.

The plant will be designed to process up to 2,000 head of cattle, 2,500 pigs and 1,000 sheep and goats daily once operating at full capacity, the Northern Nevada Business Weekly reported. Estell said the company must build a network of meat producers, and it also will raise its own cattle and pigs for slaughter, to reach these capacities.

The estimated cost for the facility is more than $100 million.

Once operational, plant officials plan to transport workers to the facility by bus — much like many of northern Nevada’s mining companies — to reduce congestion on roadways.