Burnett Meats

Burnett Meats operates at 1580 Penny Corner Rd in Melber, Graves County, Kentucky, under USDA establishment number M47735. The federal record lists the plant for both meat slaughter and meat processing, with a grant of inspection date on file of December 6, 2024, and a size class of Very Small. Species slaughtered under inspection, as reported to FSIS, are cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb. The plant reports custom-exempt slaughter, in which animals owned by the customer are processed and returned in packages marked Not for Sale, and it also reports retail-exempt sales. Its FSIS slaughter volume category is 1, meaning under 1,000 head per year.

The website describes a family owned business offering both custom and USDA butchering services. According to the site, most of the year is spent slaughtering beef, pig, and lamb for local farmers to be custom cut to specification. Animals are typically delivered around 7 on Monday mornings and slaughtered that day. The shop states a guaranteed minimum seven day hang time on beef, with other species often cut the week of slaughter, and longer hang times available on request. Cuts are vacuum sealed, ground meat is stuffed into chubs, and finished orders are boxed in cardboard meat trays and boxes for pickup. A tag number and notes system is used to keep each animal's order separate. Private labeling is offered, described as popular for USDA inspected product intended for resale and sometimes used on Not For Sale product as well.

Alongside slaughter and custom cutting, the site lists a retail store at the shop, wholesale and bulk meat, deer processing, and taxidermy. The retail page states that every cut sold, including ground beef, comes from beef sourced in western Kentucky, with the shop buying the animals and carrying out the whole process on site. Details beyond what appears on the website and in the federal record are not on file here.

The website states that most of the year is spent slaughtering beef, pig, and lamb for local farmers, cut to their specifications. Animals are typically delivered around 7 on Monday morning and slaughtered that day. Beef carries a guaranteed minimum seven day hang time, with longer hang times available if preferred, while other species are often cut the week of slaughter. Each beef is tracked with notes and a designated tag number so the order stays with the correct animal. Cuts are vacuum sealed, ground meat is stuffed into chubs, and everything is boxed in cardboard meat trays and boxes for loading. Beef, pork, and lamb cut sheets are posted for download. Private labeling is offered for producers who submit a logo, described as especially popular on USDA inspected product for resale. Booking procedures, minimums, and fees are not stated in the sources. The plant reports both USDA-inspected and custom-exempt slaughter to FSIS, so producers should confirm which applies to their animals.

Burnett Meats reports custom-exempt slaughter 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.

A retail store operates at the shop in Melber. The website states that every cut sold, including ground beef, is made from beef sourced in western Kentucky, with the animals bought and processed on site. Listed retail items include common cuts such as ribeye steaks and chuck roasts, plus house-made pork sausage stocked in mild, medium, and hot in 1 lb tubes. Bulk meat needs, including sausage, hamburger patties, and chuck rolls, are handled by phone. Halves and quarters, delivery, shipping, and online ordering are not mentioned in the sources.

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.