Typically, meat intended to be sold must be processed at a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or a state-run processing facility where meat is regularly inspected. The USDA has identified a number of exemptions from that requirement, which are reflected in the map below.
USDA exemptions (9 C.F.R. § 303.1) that are most applicable to small producers include:
- Livestock slaughtered for personal use.
- Livestock custom slaughtered or prepared.
- States can further restrict custom slaughter.
State-by-State* Review of Custom Facility & On-Farm Slaughter Laws
- Animal share legislation
- Custom/on-farm slaughter
- Slaughter at a custom facility only
- Custom/on-farm slaughter on owner’s property only
*Specific requirements for custom/on-farm slaughter laws may vary by state.
Copyright © 2021 Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund, farmtoconsumer.org. The map is the property of the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF). This map may not be reproduced or altered without the express, written permission of FTCLDF, and if permission is granted all reproductions must cite FTCLDF as the source of the original material. This map is not intended to be used as or construed as legal advice.
Read “Introduction to the Updated Red Meat Map & Chart” for more details.
By State – Legality of Custom Facility/On-Farm Slaughter
Complementing the above Red Meat Nation Map is this chart which provides among other details, relevant statute and regulation citations, and whether there is a limit on the number of owners for a custom-slaughtered animal. The chart also contains information on state requirements about who may do the slaughtering, whether it’s the owner, the producer, or both.
| STATE / USDA | STATUTE OR REGULATION | CUSTOM SLAUGHTER (9CFR 303.1) | OWNERS PER ANIMAL (No Limit per USDA) | ON FARM SLAUGHTER (Producer, Owner, or Both) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USDA | Yes. | No Limit. | On farm slaughter and processing permitted; off site custom facility permitted. | |
| Alabama | Code of Ala. Section 2-17-27 Code of Ala. Section 2-15-41 Ala. Admin Code r. 80-3-10-.04 | Yes, with Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries issued Grant of Inspection. | No limit. Paperwork/record requirements are number of animals received, owner's name and address, date animals were received, license number of the method of delivery of the animal, and animal description. | Defer to USDA. |
| Alaska | 18 AAC 31.770 | Yes. | No Limit. | Defer to USDA. |
| Arizona | A.R.S. Sections 3-2011 & 3-2002 A.R.S. 3-2017b A.A.C. Section R3-2-203 | Yes. Custom slaughter businesses require a license issued by the Department of Agriculture. | No Limit, though, as of Nov 2020; the state Dept of Ag is working toward a rule change limit of 4. | Owner or producer may field dress for own use without a license. |
| Arkansas | A.C.A. Section 20-60204 | Yes. Per Department of Health, no permit is required. | No Limit. | Defer to USDA. |
| California | Cal. Food & Agric. Code Sections 19020 (as amended Jan 2020 by Stats. 2019, Ch. 324, Sec 2) & 18812 Cal Food & Agr Code Section 18991 and 18955 | Yes. Requires a license from the Department of Agriculture. | No Limit. | Owner may slaughter on their premises for their own personal use, or have a Mobile Processing Unit (MPU) operator slaughter on owner's premises and deliver meat to a processor for the owner. A producer who wishes to slaughter cattle he raised for an owner on his property must use a Mobile Slaughter Operator (MSO), but not more than 5 cattle may be slaughtered per month and the meat must then go to a processor for further processing. |
| Colorado | C.R.S. 35-33-107, 35-33-206 | Yes, with Colorado Department of Agriculture issued license. | No Limit; however, the processor may not accept the animal if the number is unmanageable. If the animal is regulated by the CDA Brand Division and a brand inspection is required, a bill of sale or ownership document may be required. | Both producer and owner may slaughter and transport carcass to a licensed facility for further processing. |
| Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 22-272b | Yes. | No Limit. | Defer to USDA. |
| Delaware | 3 Del. C. Section 8708(13) & (14) and 8709 | Yes. A license required from the Dept of Ag Food Products Inspection Div. | No Limit. | Defer to USDA. |
| Florida | No Statutes/Regulations on the Books | Yes. | No Limit. | Defer to USDA. |
| Georgia | GAC Section 26-2-112 Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 40-10-1-.04 Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. r. 40-10-1-.22 | Yes. A license from either USDA or the Georgia Meat Inspection Section is required for custom exempt slaughter of all amenable livestock. | No Limit, but many owners discouraged. Paperwork/record requirements are name/description of the livestock, net weight of the livestock, number of shipping containers (if any), numbers and kind of the livestock, quantities and types of products prepared, and the name and address of the livestock owner(s). | Owner may field dress. Producer may not. |
| Hawaii | HRS Section 159-29 HRS Section 159-37 | Yes. Requires a permit for exemption from the Board of Agriculture. | No Limit. Paperwork/record requirements are imposed by statute by the Board of Agriculture, though none have been issued regarding custom slaughter. | Owner may field dress. Producer may not. |
| Idaho | IDAPA 16.02.19.320 | Yes. | No Limit. | Defer to USDA. |
| Illinois | 225 ILCS 650/5 225 ILCS 650/5.1 and 5.2 8 Ill. Admin. Code Section 125.151 | Yes. Custom slaughter businesses require a license from the Chief of the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Meat and Poultry Inspection. | No Limit. Paperwork/record requirements are name and address of the owner, carcass or portion of the carcass received, the date received, the dressed weight, and notice to the Chief of the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Meat and Poultry Inspection of intent to use the custom exemption. | Owner may slaughter (must own the animal for at least 30 days before slaughter, producer may not). |
| Indiana | Burns Ind. Code Ann. Section 15-17-5-11 345 IAC 9-2.1-1 | Yes. Requires a grant of exemption from the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. | No Limit. | Defer to USDA. |
| Iowa | Iowa Code Section 189A.3 - 189A.4 | Yes. Requires license issued by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. | No Limit (though more than 4 owners for cattle or 2 for smaller animals is impractical and discouraged). Producers wishing to market individual cuts to consumers (or businesses) must have livestock slaughtered under inspection. | Defer to USDA. |
| Kansas | K.S.A. Section 65-6a31 K.A.R. Section 4-16-1c | Yes. Registration required with the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture. | No Limit. Ownership of each animal must be documented and maintained by the custom operator. | Owner may field dress. Producer may not. |
| Kentucky | No Statutes/Regulations on the Books | Yes. | No Limit. | Defer to USDA. |
| Louisiana | La. R. S. Section 3:4215 LAC 7:XXXIII.105 & LAC 7:XXXIII.107 | Yes. Grant of Inspection from the LA Department of Agriculture and Forestry required. | No Limit. | Owner/producer may skin/eviscerate and transport to a custom facility for complete processing; owner/producer can completely process for their and family's use, but not for someone buying the animal from them. |
| Maine | 22 M.R.S. Sections 2514; 2514A; 2518 CMR 01-001-346 Section 3, Subsection 2 | Yes. Registration or license required with the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, except custom slaughterers who travel to perform services solely at the owner's home/farm. | No Limit. Paperwork/record requirements are species, dressed weight, owner's name and address. | Producer or owner may field dress. |
| Maryland | Md. AGRICULTURE Code Ann. Sections 4-109 & 4-119 | Yes. Registration required with the Department of Agriculture. | No Limit. | Defer to USDA. |
| Massachusetts | ALM GL ch. 94 Section 130 105 CMR 500.030 & 500.031 | Yes. Custom slaughter businesses require a license from the Department of Public Health. | No Limit. Record keeping includes animal health certificates and animal source, number/type of animals, dates of slaughter, quantities and types of products, and owner info. | Defer to USDA. |
| Michigan | No Statutes/Regulations on the Books | Yes. | No Limit. | Defer to USDA. |
| Minnesota | Minn. Stat. Section 31.A.15 Minn. R. 1540.0020 | Yes. Custom processors require a custom processor permit issued by the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture. (A COVID expedited approval process is being offered for a 90-day provisional grant of inspection for custom exempt slaughter establishments - involves continuous inspection). | No Limit. Required to keep records of all transactions. | Producer may field dress. Owner may not. Producer could also hire someone with a mobile slaughter unit that is licensed to slaughter on the farm. |
| Mississippi | Miss. Code Ann. Sections 75-35-31, 75-35-103 2 Miss. Code R. § 1-4-07-01-110.01 Section XI 111 of Meat Inspection Regulations | Yes. Registration and/or a license is required through Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC). | No limit. Paperwork/record requirements are name, address, and telephone number of each owner, provided before slaughter. | Owner may field dress. Producer may not. |
| Missouri | Section 265.320 R.S.Mo. 2 CSR 30-10.010 | Yes. | No Limit. Paperwork/record requirements are name and address of the owner, species and weight of animal slaughtered, and kind and weight of items prepared. | Defer to USDA. |
| Montana | 81-9-218, MCA 81-3-211, MCA 81-3-210, MCA ARM 32.6.712 | Yes. Custom processors require a license issued by the Department of Agriculture. Shares may require a state agency securities registration exemption. Please contact FTCLDF. | No Limit. Beef/cattle/horses need a change of ownership inspection when the animal is sold, and all owners must be named on the document transferring ownership. | No field dressing. |
| Nebraska | No statutes/regulations on the books. [R.R.S. Neb. Section 54-1908 (Power to Exempt)] | Yes. | No Limit. | Defer to USDA. |
| Nevada | NAC 583.530 Nev. Rev. Stat. 565.040, 566.025 Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. Section 583.454 Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. Section 583.515 - Exemptions (Repealed) | Yes. Custom processors require a permit issued by the Department of Agriculture. | No Limit, but there must be reasonable personal use. A record of all animal sales and owners is required. A brand inspection is required before any bovine slaughter or transfer of ownership. | Owner may field dress. Producer can only field dress for an owner if they have a custom processor permit. |
| New Hampshire | RSA 427:2-a | Yes. | No Limit. | Defer to USDA. |
| New Jersey | N.J. Stat. Section 24:16B-42 | Yes. | No Limit. | No field dressing. |
| New Mexico | 21.33.2.52 NMAC 21.33.2.8 NMAC 21.33.2.10 NMAC | Yes. Application and registration with the Department of Agriculture required for custom slaughter establishments. | No Limit. | Defer to USDA. |
| New York | NY CLS Agr & M Section 96-a - 96-f | Yes. | No Limit. | Defer to USDA. |
| North Carolina | N.C. Gen. Stat. Section 106-549.27 2 N.C.A.C. 52D.0101 | Yes. | No Limit. | Producer or owner may field dress. |
| North Dakota | N.D. Cent. Code Sections 4.1-31-01.1 & 4.1-31-10 N.D. Admin. Code 7-13-02-01 N.D. Admin. Code 7-13-02-03 | Yes. Annual registration required with the Department of Agriculture for custom-exempt plants. Spring 2020 interpretation allows custom facilities to operate as a broker or agent. See DOA newsletter: https://www.farmtoconsumer.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/ND-DOA-Newsletter-Meat-Messenger.pdf | No Limit. Custom-exempt plants required to maintain records equivalent to federal requirements. | Owner may field dress. Producer may not unless they have a fully equipped Mobile Processing Unit (MPU). |
| Ohio | ORC Ann. 918.10 OAC Ann. 901:2-1-01 & 901:2-1-04 | Yes. A license is required from the Department of Agriculture for custom slaughterers who slaughter for the owner of the animal. | Up to 4 owners per animal. Paperwork/record requirements are numbers and kinds of livestock slaughtered, and names and addresses of the owners. If multiple owners, slaughterer must indicate part of the animal each owner is to receive. | Owner or producer may slaughter, but it must be performed on the owner's property. |
| Oklahoma | 2 Okl. St. Section 6-195 | Yes. License required from the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry. | No Limit. Paperwork/record requirements of all transactions: customer names, number of animals slaughtered per customer, number of animals over/under 30 months of age. | Owner may field dress for themselves on their own property but not for another owner. Red meat limit is 10 heads. |
| Oregon | ORS 603.025 ORS 603.034 ORS 603.045 | Yes, with Oregon State Department of Agriculture issued license. Individual owner does not need a license to field dress on property for use in compliance with USDA uses. | No Limit. | Owner may field dress on own property for personal use. |
| Pennsylvania | 31 P.S. Section 483.3 7 Pa. Code Section 1.12 | Yes. | No Limit. Paperwork/record requirements are numbers and kinds of livestock slaughtered, names and addresses of owners of the animals. | Defer to USDA. |
| Rhode Island | R.I. Gen. Laws Section 21-11-3, 21-11-7 216 RICR 050-10-4 Section 4.6 | Yes. Requires a permit from the Department of Health. | Only one owner per animal according to department policy. This limitation is not in either statute or regulation. | Owner and producer may field dress. |
| South Carolina | S.C. Code Ann. Section 47-17-90 S.C. Code Regs. 27-1023 | Yes. Custom for owner and producer. | No Limit. | On farm for producer only. |
| South Dakota | S.D. Codified Laws Section 39-5-6; 39-5-11 | Yes, an annual license is required from the Animal Industry Board and safety training every 3 years. | No Limit. Records of all transactions are required. | Farm slaughter okay only by owner, or a representative of a licensed facility. |
| Tennessee | Tenn. Code Ann. Section 53-7-209, 53-7-216 & 53-7-220 | Yes, with Tennessee Department of Agriculture issued license. | No Limit. | Producer or owner may field dress. |
| Texas | Tex. Health & Safety Code Section 433.006 25 TAC Sections 221.11; 221.12; 221.14 | Yes. Requires a grant of custom exemption from the Department of State Health Services. | No Limit. Paperwork/record requirements are name, address, and telephone number of the owner, and the date the animal was slaughtered, the species, and a brief description of the animal, and documents related to each transaction. | Owner may field dress on their own property. Producer may not. |
| Utah | Utah Code Ann. Sections 4-32-106; 4-32-107; 4-32-108 U.A.C. R58-11-3; R58-11-4; R58-11-6 | Yes. | No Limit. A valid farm custom slaughter licensee must maintain records of the name, address, and telephone number of the owner, a full description of the animal slaughtered, including age, brands, marks, and any other identifying features, proof of ownership, destination of processing, the date of slaughter, and the Farm Custom Slaughter tag number. Animal owners must have a Brand Inspection Certificate. | Owner may field dress. An on-farm custom slaughterer may field dress with a valid farm custom slaughter license from the Department of Agriculture and Food and then transport to a processing facility. |
| Vermont | 6 V.S.A. Sections 3305 - 3307 & 3311a (this section to be repealed 7/1/2023) CVR 20-023-001 | Yes, license from the VT Agency of Agriculture is required. | No Limit. Requires owners sign an owners certification. | Owner may field dress animals on owner's property, or on the property of the seller/farmer who raised the livestock (seller of livestock for slaughter must register with the Agency). Producer cannot slaughter for an owner unless producer meets custom requirements. |
| Virginia | 2 VAC 5-210-30 Code of Virginia 3.2-5406 | Yes. Permit issued by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for custom slaughters for an owner, but a license is not required for custom slaughter for personal use. | No Limit. Name/address of each owner and products must be maintained along with proof of ownership. | Owner can field dress, producer may not. |
| Washington | Rev. Code Wash. (ARCW) Section 16.49.035 WAC Section 16-610-100 WAC Section 16-19 | Yes. License required issued by the Department of Agriculture. | No Limit. A certificate of ownership is required at the time of slaughter along with custom slaughter beef tags provided by the Department of Agriculture. | Producer may field dress. Owner may not. |
| West Virginia | W. Va. Code Section 19-2B-4 to 8 W. Va. CSA Sections 61-16-2 & 61-16-6 On necessary custom stamps, see WV Code 19-2B-6(e) & CSR Section 61-16-7.6 | Yes. Requires a license issued by the Department of Agriculture. | The Dept of Ag recognizes up to 4 owners per animal (1 owner per quarter). Certain custom stamps are required for carcasses. | Owner may field dress. Producer may field dress with a license. |
| Wisconsin | Wis. Stat. Section 97.42 Wis. Adm. Code ATCP 55.08 & 55.09 | Yes. Mobile custom slaughter operations are required to hold a registration certificate from the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. | No Limit. Paperwork/record requirements are name and address of the owner, the number and type of animals slaughtered, the date of slaughter, and the disposition of each carcass. | Owner and producer may field dress. |
| Wyoming | WCWR 010-0003-14 (WY Administrative Rules-Food Safety) Meat share law: W.S. 11?49?101 through 104, W.S. 11-23-102(a) | Yes, a license from the Dept of Ag required. License for a custom facility may be required. | No Limit. A Brand Inspection Certificate is required before slaughter; issued to the animal owner by the Wyoming Livestock Board. | Owner may slaughter; producer may slaughter in a licensed facility or on the owner's property (not rancher's), and owner can process or bring to a processor for specific cuts. State law on meat shares now allows rancher to process specific cuts for owner. |
February 25, 2021
Copyright © 2010-2021 Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund www.farmtoconsumer.org. The chart is the property of the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF). This chart may not be reproduced or altered without the express, written permission of FTCLDF, and if permission is granted, all reproductions must cite FTCLDF as the source of the original material. This chart is not intended to be used as or construed as legal advice.