January 28, 2010

Inspection cutback strikes Indiana meat processing sector

The Indiana Board of Animal Health (BOAH) has announced a massive cutback in state inspections at slaughter and processing facilities, which is causing major problems for meat processors and livestock producers.

BOAH has mandated a 50% cut in meat inspection at state inspected plants. State Veterinarian Dr. Bret Marsh said this will result in major cutbacks in meat inspected in the state.

Marsh said that inspection will be provided only when required, adding that each plant must consolidate work requiring inspection to the fewest number of days and hours possible. These days or parts of days will be the official state-inspected slaughter and processing daytimes for that facility. All other times will be custom slaughter and exempt process. The total reduction is nearly US$2 million dollars.

He admits that the cutback will result in the loss of businesses for processors and for livestock producers.

The estimated increase in value to the state's economy from direct marketing of freezer meat processed through Indiana's 134 State Inspected facilities is estimated to be over US$35.8 million. This does not include the nearly 32,000 poultry processed in these facilities each year as well. This is on average US$267,558 per facility.