October 25, 2006

Premium Iowa Pork's modern hog-processing plant comes online
 

Premium Iowa Pork is looking forward to reopening its plant in Hospers, Iowa, with a 10,000-square-foot expansion and equipment.

The renovation was completed with the help of a US$300,000 Value Added Grant from USDA Rural Development.

The plant would be able to process 1,200 to 1,800 heads daily.

This plant includes an animal handling system that was designed by an animal science professor at Colorado State University and emphasized humane treatment.

The tendency towards more humane treatment of food animals is in line with company policy, said Bart Bickley, CEO of Premium Iowa Pork adding that a calm animal is going to produce better quality meat.

State-of-the-art systems imported from Germany also ensured there is no cross contamination.

Hogs are slaughtered at Hospers and cut and packaged, Bickley said. The saws have lasers to ensure the most accurate cuts and the meat can be cut according to customer specifications.

The business is small enough so any niche marketer's pork can be segregated, but it's large enough to do the job well, Bickley said.

The company would work with niche producers who have a product that they want to market, Bickley said.