WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service is hosting a red-meat mobile slaughter unit information session from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., PDT, at the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension offices at 2621 Northgate Lane, Suite 15, in Carson City, Nev. Goals of this session, which is being held as part of U.S.D.A.'s “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” initiative, are to educate farmers, ranchers and processors on how to operate mobile slaughter units and meet U.S.D.A. food-safety requirements.

"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 U.S.D.A. federal mark of inspection," said Al Almanza, F.S.I.S. 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. F.S.I.S.-inspected mobile slaughter units provide a feasible option for small livestock producers wanting to provide meat products to local and interstate consumer markets. Livestock for these mobile units include cattle, hogs, goats and sheep.

F.S.I.S. officials plan to highlight how to apply for the federal grant of inspection and discuss inspection issues unique to mobile slaughter units. The information session will also include presentations by other U.S.D.A. agencies, the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, the Western Nevada College Specialty Crop Institute and the Producer to Chef Program, as well as a review of federal grant and loan options. To view the meeting agenda, go to: www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/.