The Butcher Block

The Butcher Block operates at 2482 Maryland Highway in Oakland, Garrett County, Maryland, under USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service establishment numbers M19252 and P19252. The federal record lists the plant for meat slaughter, meat processing, and poultry processing, with a grant of inspection date on file of September 29, 2021. FSIS classifies the establishment in its very small size class.

Species slaughtered under federal inspection, as reported to FSIS, are cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb. The plant reports slaughter volume in the lowest FSIS category, under 1,000 head per year. It also reports custom-exempt slaughter, meaning it will process animals owned by the customer with packages marked Not for Sale, and it reports retail-exempt sales, which covers direct sales of meat to household buyers.

The only website on file is a Facebook page, and no website text was available for this record. Secondary listings place the business at 2482 MD-135 in Oakland with the phone number (301) 334-4140, and one listing indicates the business is closed on Mondays. Details beyond the federal record, including cut and wrap options, pricing, booking practices, and product lists, are not yet on file.

The federal record lists this establishment for meat slaughter and meat processing, with cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb reported as the species slaughtered under inspection. It also reports custom-exempt slaughter, so a producer may be able to have animals they own processed and returned in packages marked Not for Sale. Reported slaughter volume is under 1,000 head per year and FSIS classifies the plant as very small, which generally means limited weekly capacity. Booking lead times, minimums, kill fees, cut and wrap charges, and hanging or drop off arrangements are not stated in the sources on file. Farmers should call (301) 334-4140 to confirm species accepted and scheduling.

The Butcher Block 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.

The establishment reports retail-exempt sales to FSIS, which allows direct sales of meat to household customers, and secondary business directories list it as a butcher shop in Oakland. One listing refers to a menu, but the sources do not confirm what is sold, whether halves or quarters are offered, or whether bundles, delivery, or shipping are available. Specific products, prices, and ordering methods are not yet 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.