Relevant points in support of on-farm processing of Pastured Poultry
1. Some consumers prefer on-farm processing for reasons of humane treatment, sanitation, and knowledge of their food’s origin.
2. On-farm processing involves less stress on the birds, as they are slaughtered 200 yards from where they have lived since they were a day old. This leads to better flavor, maximized health benefits, and less stress on producers.
3. On- farm processing is a slower, more deliberate process than poultry plant processing, allowing each bird to be inspected thoroughly, and stopping to address problems if there are any. In contrast, many poultry plants process upwards of 250,000 birds per day, with a line speed of 100 birds a minute.
4. Low flow of salmonella and other pathogens into processing, due to low volumes of birds processed.
5. Reduced food miles: in a time of growing concern about energy consumption, the fewer miles food travels from farm to plate, the better. Processing our chickens in a state certified processing plant would add approximately 100 miles to each batch of 30 chickens
6. As on-farm producers, we have a very personal and direct motivation for keeping our product as pure as possible; we sell to friends and family, and we don’t want any of them to become ill. Since job performance is directly linked to motivation, I suggest that we are more motivated to keep our process clean than most poultry processing plant workers.
7. Our outdoor processing facility is used once a week, and is exposed to U.V. light during and between processings. U.V. is one of the most effective sanitizers. Contrast with indoor plants which have near constant use, and little or no direct sunlight to sanitize equipment.
8. On-farm processing allows small volumes of poultry to be profitable for small diversified farms, keeping more farmers on their land, and increasing the local food supply. The cost of a state inspected on-farm processing plant is prohibitive for anyone producing fewer than 10,000 birds a year, which is why the state and federal regulators have always included exemptions for any producer on this scale.
