Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T04:09:11.935Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Mobile poultry processing units: a safe and cost-effective poultry processing option for the small-scale farmer in the United States

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 November 2014

C.A. O'BRYAN
Affiliation:
Center for Food Safety and Department of Food Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72704, USA
P.G. CRANDALL*
Affiliation:
Center for Food Safety and Department of Food Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72704, USA
M.L. DAVIS
Affiliation:
Center for Food Safety and Department of Food Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72704, USA
G. KOSTADINI
Affiliation:
Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Georgia, Griffin, GA 30223, USA
K.E. GIBSON
Affiliation:
Center for Food Safety and Department of Food Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72704, USA
W.Q. ALALI
Affiliation:
Center for Food Safety and Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Georgia, Griffin, GA 30223, USA
D. JARONI
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA
S.C. RICKE
Affiliation:
Center for Food Safety and Department of Food Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72704, USA
J.A. MARCY
Affiliation:
Department of Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
*
Corresponding author: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

In developed countries, small farmer entrepreneurs contemplating poultry production are becoming more interested in assessing mobile poultry processing units (MPPU) to add additional value to the birds they sell in urban or farmers’ markets. However, there continues to be a lack of viable poultry processing options for small flocks as evidenced by the recent United States Department of Agriculture map, which depicts the locations of both small farms and processing facilities, county by county, across the United States. This map substantiates the need for more affordable poultry processing options to serve small-scale farmers. Many small-scale farmers operate MPPUs under federal exemptions that exclude them from continuous inspections by the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, but they are still required to meet all sanitation and wholesomeness requirements. Costs associated with processing are somewhat less under this exemption, but one is unable to sell poultry as having been inspected in the open market. The USDA-FSIS has also created a mobile slaughter unit compliance guide for those who wish to be USDA regulated. Either way, regulated or unregulated, the MPPU may be an affordable and efficient solution to add value to small flock production. Small-scale poultry farmers, both organic and pastured, may benefit from the opportunities associated with mobile processing.

Type
Review Article
Copyright
Copyright © World's Poultry Science Association 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

APHIS/USDA (2011) Characteristics of small-scale U.S. livestock operations. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahms/smallscale/downloads/Small_scale_is_GenChar.pdf. Accessed 17 May 2013.Google Scholar
ARRITT, F.M., EIFERT, J.D., PIERSON, M.D. and SUMNER, S.S. (2002) Efficacy of antimicrobials against Campylobacter jejuni on chicken breast skin. Journal of Applied Poultry Research 11: 358-366.Google Scholar
BAUERMEISTER, L.J., BOWERS, J.W., TOWNSEND, J.C. and MCKEE, S.R. (2008) Validating the efficacy of peracetic acid mixture as an antimicrobial in poultry chillers. Journal of Food Protection 71: 1119-1122.Google Scholar
BERLIN, L., LOCKERETZ, W. and BELLA, R. (2009) Purchasing foods produced on organic, small and local farms: A mixed method analysis of New England consumers. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 24 (4): 267-275.Google Scholar
BOGGIA, A., PAOLOTTI, I. and CASTELLINI, C. (2010) Environmental impact evaluation of conventional, organic and organic-plus poultry production systems using life cycle assessment. World's Journal of Poultry Science 66: 95-114.Google Scholar
CASTELLINI, C., BASTIANONI, S., GRANAI, C., DAL BOSCO, A. and BRUNETTI, M. (2006) Sustainability of poultry production using the emergy approach: Comparison of conventional and organic rearing systems. Agriculture, Ecosytems and Environment 114: 343-350.Google Scholar
CONNER, B. (2010) Pastured poultry budgets: slow-growing broiler and organic comparisons. http://www.scribd.com/doc/40876871/Pastured-Poultry-Budgets-Slow-Growing-Broiler-and-Organic-Comparisons#outer_page_4. Accessed 21 June 2012.Google Scholar
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SYSTEM (2012) Mobile slaughter/processing units currently in operation. http://www.extension.org/pages/19781/ Accessed May 2012.Google Scholar
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SYSTEM (2010) Hudson Valley poultry processing: Marketing opportunity. http://www.extension.org/pages/25528/ Accessed May 2012.Google Scholar
CORNELL SMALL FARMS PROGRAM (2014) Ensuring meat safety-HACCP, SOP and GMP. http://smallfarms.cornell.edu/2012/07/22/ensuring-meat-safety-haccp-sop-and-gmp/. Accessed 26 February 2014.Google Scholar
CRANDALL, P.G., FRIEDLY, E.C., PATTON, M., O'BRYAN, C.A., GURUBARAMURUGESHAN, A., SEIDEMAN, S., RICKE, S.C. and RAINEY, R. (2010) Estimating the demand for organic foods by consumers at farmers' markets in northwest Arkansas. Journal of Agriculture and Food Information 11: 185-208.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
CRANDALL, P.G., SEIDEMAN, S., RICKE, S.C., O'BRYAN, C.A., FANATICO, A.F. and RAINEY, R. (2009) Organic poultry: Consumer perceptions, opportunities and regulatory issues. Journal of Applied Poultry Research 18: 795-802.Google Scholar
FANATICO, A.C. (2002) Growing your range poultry business: An entrepreneur's toolbox. http://www.agmrc.org/media/cms/poultrytoolbox_74662D4F2E86E.pdf. Accessed 21 June 2012.Google Scholar
FANATICO, A.C. (2003) Small scale poultry processing. https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/summaries/summary.php?pub=235. Accessed 21 June 2012.Google Scholar
FANATICO, A.C., PILLAI, P.B., EMMERT, J.L. and OWENS, C.M. (2007) Meat quality of slow- and fast-growing chicken genotypes fed low nutrient or standard diets and raised indoors or with outdoor access. Poultry Science 86: 2245-2255.Google Scholar
FINSTAD, S., O'BRYAN, C.A., MARCY, J.A., CRANDALL, P.G. and RICKE, S.C. (2012) Salmonella and broiler processing in the United States: relationship to foodborne salmonellosis. Food Research International 45: 789-794.Google Scholar
GEORGIA ORGANICS (2011) Legal clarification: On-farm poultry processing in Georgia. http://georgiaorganics.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/On-FarmProcessingLegalDoc.pdf. Accessed 01 April 2013.Google Scholar
GIFFORD, K. and BERNARD, J.C. (2011) The effect of information on consumers’ willingness to pay for natural and organic chicken. International Journal of Consumer Studies 35: 282-289.Google Scholar
HANNING, I., BISWAS, D., HERRERA, P., ROESLER, M. and RICKE, S.C. (2010) Prevalence and characterization of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from pasture flock poultry. Journal of Food Science 75: M496-M502.Google Scholar
HILIMIRE, K. (2012) The grass is greener: Farmers’ experiences with pastured poultry. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 27: 173-179.Google Scholar
JEKAYINFA, S.O. (2007) Energetic analysis of poultry processing operations. Leonardo Journal of Sciences 10: 77-92.Google Scholar
JOHNSON, R.J., MARTI, D.L. and GWIN, L. (2012) Slaughter and processing options and issues for locally sourced meat. http://www.ers.usda.gov/media/820188/ldpm216-01.pdf. Accessed 01 April 2013.Google Scholar
KEENER, K. (2007) Overview of HACCP. https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/FS/FS-20-W.pdf. Accessed 26 February 2014.Google Scholar
KEMPER, N.P., POPP, J.S., GOODWIN, H.L. Jr, MILLER, W.P. and DOEKSEN, G.A. (2006) The Economic power of poultry in the Ozarks. Journal of Applied Poultry Research 15: 502-510.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
KIEPPER, B.H., MERKA, W.C. and FLETCHER, D.L. (2008) Proximate composition of poultry processing wastewater particulate matter from broiler slaughter plants. Poultry Science 87: 1633-1636.Google Scholar
KILLINGER, K.M., KANNAN, A., BARY, A.I. and COGGER, C.E. (2010) Validation of a 2 percent lactic acid antimicrobial rinse for mobile poultry slaughter operations. Journal of Food Protection 73: 2079-2083.Google Scholar
LAMMERS, L. (2011) Locally produced defined differently by major grocery chains. http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/08/locally-produced-defined-differently-major-grocery-chains/. Accessed 01 April 2013.Google Scholar
LAUX, M. (2012) Organic food trends profile. http://www.agmrc.org/markets__industries/food/organic_food_trends_profile.cfm/. Accessed May 2012.Google Scholar
MCLEOD, A., THIEME, O. and MACK, S.D. (2009) Structural changes in the poultry sector: will there be smallholder poultry development in 2030? World's Journal of Poultry Science 65: 191-199.Google Scholar
MELENDEZ, S.N., HANNING, I., HAN, J., NAYAK, R., CLEMENT, A.R., WOOMING, A., HERERRA, P., JONES, F.T., FOLEY, S.L. and RICKE, S.C. (2010) Salmonella enterica isolates from pasture-raised poultry exhibit antimicrobial resistance and class I integrons. Journal of Applied Microbiology 109: 1957-1966.Google Scholar
MIDKIFF, K. (2004) The meat you eat: how corporate farming has endangered America's food supply, St. Martin's Press: New York.Google Scholar
NATIONAL CENTER FOR APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY (2011) Small-scale poultry processing. https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/summaries/summary.php?pub=235. Accessed 02 April; 2013.Google Scholar
NEW ENGLAND SMALL FARM INSTITUTE (2013) Mobile poultry processing unit project. http://www.smallfarm.org/main/special_projects/mppu/ Accessed 18 February 2014.Google Scholar
NEW ENTRY SUSTAINABLE FARMING PROJECT (2012) Building an on-farm poultry processing facility. http://www.sare.org/Learning-Center/Project-Products/Northeast-SARE-Project-Products/Building-an-On-Farm-Poultry-Processing-Facility Accessed 18 February 2014.Google Scholar
NICHE MEAT PROCESSOR ASSISTANCE NETWORK (2012) State poultry processing regulations. http://www.extension.org/sites/default/files/NMPAN%20State%20Poultry%20Regs%20Report%202August2012.pdf. Accessed 02 April 2013.Google Scholar
NORTHCUTT, J.K. and JONES, D.R. (2004) A survey of water use and common industry practices in commercial broiler processing facilities. Journal of Applied Poultry Research 13: 48-54.Google Scholar
O'BRYAN, C.A., CRANDALL, P.G. and RICKE, S.C. (2008) Organic poultry pathogen control from farm to fork. Foodborne Pathogens and Disease 5: 709-720.Google Scholar
O'BRYAN, C.A., GIBSON, K.E., CRANDALL, P.G. and RICKE, S.C. (2012) Slaughter options for organic meat producers in the United States, in: RICKE, S.C., VAN LOO, E.J., JOHNSON, M.G. & O'BRYAN, C.A. (Eds) Organic meat production and processing, pp. 201-209 (Wiley Scientific/IFT, New York, NY).Google Scholar
OLLINGER, M., MACDONALD, J.E. and MADISON, M. (2005) Technological change and economics of scale in U.S. poultry processing. American Journal of Agricultural Economics 87: 116-129.Google Scholar
PETKAR, A., ALALI, W.Q., HARRISON, M.A. and BEUCHAT, L.R. (2011) Survival of Salmonella in organic and conventional broiler feed as affected by temperature and water activity. Agriculture Food, & Analytical Bacteriology 1: 175-185.Google Scholar
REVELLE, P. and REVELLE, C. (1988) The Environment: Issues and Choices for Society. 3rd ed. Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Boston. 749 pp.Google Scholar
RICKE, S.C. (2003) Perspectives on the use of organic acids and short chain fatty acids as antimicrobials. Poultry Science 82: 632-639.Google Scholar
RICKE, S.C., KUNDINGER, M.M., MILLER, D.R. and KEETON, J.T. (2005) Alternatives to antibiotics: Chemical and physical antimicrobial interventions and foodborne pathogen response. Poultry Science 84: 667-675.Google Scholar
RICKE, S.C., VAN LOO, E.J., JOHNSON, M.G. and O'BRYAN, C.A. (2012) Organic Meat Production and Processing. Wiley Scientific/IFT, New York, NY 444 pp.Google Scholar
SIRSAT, S.A., MUTHAIYAN, A. and RICKE, S.C. (2009) Antimicrobials for pathogen reduction in organic and natural poultry production. Journal of Applied Poultry Research 18: 379-388.Google Scholar
STERN, N.J., FEDORKA-CRAY, P., BAILEY, J.S., COX, N.A., CRAVEN, S.E., HIETT, K.L., MUSGROVE, M.T., LADELY, S., COSBY, D. and MEAD, G.C. (2001) Distribution of Campylobacter spp. in selected U.S. poultry production and processing operations. Journal of Food Protection 64: 1705-1710.Google Scholar
TRIMBLE, L.M., ALALI, W.Q., GIBSON, K.E., RICKE, S.C., CRANDALL, P. JARONI, D. and BERRANG, M. (2013a) Salmonella and Campylobacter prevalence and concentration on pasture-raised broilers processed on-farm, in a mobile processing unit, and at small USDA-inspected facilities. Food Control 34: 177-182.Google Scholar
TRIMBLE, L.M., ALALI, W.Q., GIBSON, K.E., RICKE, S.C., CRANDALL, P., JARONI, D., BERRANG, M. and HABTESELASSIE, M.Y. (2013b) Salmonella and Campylobacter in the processing environment of small-scale pastured broiler farms. Poultry Science 92: 3060-3066.Google Scholar
TUFTS UNIVERSITY (2011) New entry sustainable farming: Poultry processing. http://nesfp.nutrition.tufts.edu/training/mobilepoultry.html Accessed May 2012.Google Scholar
TURAN, N.G. (2009) Nitrogen availability in composted poultry litter using natural amendments. Waste Management Research 27: 19-24.Google Scholar
USDA (2006) Guidance for determining whether a poultry slaughter or processing operation is exempt from inspection requirements of the Poultry Products Inspection Act. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oppde/rdad/fsisnotices/poultry_slaughter_exemption_0406.pdf. Accessed 01 April 2013.Google Scholar
USDA (2013a) National Organic Program, http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/nop. Accessed 02 April 2013.Google Scholar
USDA (2013b) National list of allowed and prohibited substances. http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/NOPPetitionedSubstancesDatabase. Accessed 02 April 2013.Google Scholar
USDA (2014) Meat and poultry HACCP. https://fsrio.nal.usda.gov/haccp/meat-and-poultry-haccp Accessed 26 February 2014.Google Scholar
USDA/ERS (2012) Structure and finances of U.S. farms: family farm report, 2010 Edition. http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/eib-economic-information-bulletin/eib66.aspx#.UVrZulddAfN. Accessed 02 April 2013.Google Scholar
USDA/FSIS (2010a) Slaughter availability to small livestock and poultry producers. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/KYF_maps-050410_FOR_RELEASE.pdf. Accessed 21 June 2012.Google Scholar
USDA/FSIS (2010b) Mobile slaughter compliance guide. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Compliance_Guide_Mobile_Slaughter.pdf. Accessed May 2012.Google Scholar
USDA and NASS (2011) Poultry slaughter 2010 summary. http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/nass/PoulSlauSu//2010s/2011/PoulSlauSu-02-25-2011_errata.pdf. Accessed 26 May 2013.Google Scholar
VAN LOO, E.J., CAPUTO, V., NAYGA, R.M. Jr, MEULLENET, J.F. and RICKE, S.C. (2011) Consumers’ willingness to pay for organic chicken breast: Evidence from choice experiment. Food Quality and Preference 22: 603-613.Google Scholar
VAN LOO, E.J., ALALI, W. and RICKE, S.C. (2012a) Food safety and organic meats. Annual Reviews of Food Science and Technology 3: 205-225.Google Scholar
VAN LOO, E.J., CAPUTO, V., NAYGA. R.M. Jr, CANAVARI, M. and RICKE, S.C. (2012b) Organic meat marketing, in: RICKE, S.C., VAN LOO, E.J., JOHNSON, M.G. & O'BRYAN, C.A. (Eds) Organic meat production and processing, pp. 67-85 (Wiley Scientific/IFT, New York, NY).Google Scholar
VAN LOO, E.J., MELENDEZ, S.N., HANNING JARQUIN, I.B. and RICKE, S.C. (2012c) Foodborne pathogen occurrence in organically raised poultry, in: RICKE, S.C., VAN LOO, E.J., JOHNSON, M.G. & O'BRYAN, C.A. (Eds) Organic meat production and processing, pp. 315-328 (Wiley Scientific/IFT, New York, NY).Google Scholar
VAN LOO, E.J., ALALI, W.Q., WELANDER, S., O'BRYAN, C.A., CRANDALL, P.G. and RICKE, S.C. (2013a) Consumers’ interest in locally raised, small-scale poultry in Georgia. Agriculture, Food, & Analytical Bacteriology 3: 94-102.Google Scholar
VAN LOO, E.J., ALALI, W.Q., WELANDER, S., O'BRYAN, C.A., CRANDALL, P.G. and RICKE, S.C. (2013b) Independent poultry processing in Georgia: Survey of producers’ perspective. Agriculture, Food, & Analytical Bacteriology 3: 70-77.Google Scholar
WOLFE, K. (2008) Estimating a business opportunity's economic vitality. http://www.caes.uga.edu/center/caed/pubs/2008/documents/CR-08-12.pdf Accessed 21 June 2012.Google Scholar
ZEZIMA, K. (2010) Push to eat local food is hampered by shortage. https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/28/us/28slaughter.html Accessed May 2012.Google Scholar