Slagel Slaughter

Slagel Slaughter operates at 103 E. Krack St. in Forrest, Illinois, in Livingston County, under USDA establishment number M21188+P21188. The federal record lists the plant for meat slaughter and meat processing, with cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb reported as species slaughtered under inspection. FSIS classifies the establishment as very small and lists a grant of inspection dated August 24, 2021. The plant also reports custom-exempt processing, and its FSIS slaughter volume category is 2.0, above the smallest tier of under 1,000 head per year.

The establishment is associated with Slagel Farms, described on its website as a fifth generation family farm founded in Fairbury, Illinois in 1888 by Sam Slagel. LouisJohn Slagel founded Slagel Meats in October 2007 after graduating from college. The website describes the business as a family-owned livestock slaughter plant and processing facility that operates as a retail butcher shop six days a week and supplies processed meat products to restaurants weekly. Processing is described as done in house at a USDA inspected facility using manual methods, with customized dry-aging and specialty sausage programs offered.

The website markets to restaurants in Chicago and beyond with fresh, cut-to-order meats, to retail markets and grocers throughout the Midwest, and to the public through farm tours and dinners paired with Chicago chefs. Listed brands are Slagel Meats and Clover Farmcraft. Note that the website is written around the farm and its Fairbury history, while the federal record lists the inspected plant at the Forrest address. Details such as hours, pricing, booking lead times, and cut and wrap fees are not stated in the sources on file.

The plant reports custom-exempt processing to FSIS in addition to federally inspected slaughter and processing, and the website has a section describing custom processing. Species slaughtered under inspection, as reported to FSIS, are cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb. One secondary directory listing also mentions goats, which is not reflected in the federal species list on file. Booking procedures, scheduling lead times, drop-off instructions, minimums, kill fees, and cut and wrap charges are not stated in the sources on file. Farmers should call (815) 657-8160 to confirm availability and terms.

Slagel Slaughter reports custom-exempt processing to FSIS, which means it can process an animal a customer already owns (a whole, half, or share bought before slaughter) and return it in packages marked Not for Sale. Most small farms have one or two plants they book with, and the plant's calendar decides the delivery date.

The website states that the business operates as a retail butcher shop six days a week, and that Slagel meats can be found at markets and grocers throughout the Midwest. It also offers farm tours and dinners at the family farm, with 2026 dates listed for July 18, September 19, and October 10 featuring Chicago chefs. Halves and quarters, bundles, online ordering, delivery, and shipping to households are not described in the sources on file.

If you are buying a half or quarter animal, the plant is where the animal is processed; the farm sells you the animal. Read how to buy a half cow for the sequence and the math.