Callahan Meats, Inc.

Callahan Meats, Inc. operates at 12595 160th Ave S in Barnesville, Clay County, Minnesota, under USDA FSIS establishment numbers M2693 and V2693. The federal record lists the plant for meat slaughter, meat processing, and voluntary meat processing, with a grant of inspection date on file of March 7, 2025. FSIS classifies the plant as very small, and its reported slaughter volume category is under 1,000 head per year. Species reported slaughtered under inspection are cattle, hogs, sheep and lamb, and goats. The establishment also reports custom-exempt slaughter, where animals owned by the customer are returned in packages marked Not for Sale, and reports retail-exempt sales.

The company website describes a locally owned butcher shop serving Barnesville and the Fargo-Moorhead area, offering custom meat processing, retail meats, bulk orders, and wholesale supply to restaurants and retailers. The site states the business was established in 1999 under the name J&B Meats, later operated as Countryside Meats, and now operates as Callahan Meats. It describes recent facility upgrades including new smokers, grinders, slicers, an automated rollstock vacuum packaging system, and upgraded HVAC, and states that USDA certification allows it to offer USDA-inspected slaughter alongside continuing custom processing.

Beyond custom processing, the website advertises custom and private labeling for retailers, restaurants, and food entrepreneurs, covering production, branded packaging, retail-ready and vacuum-sealed packaging, regulatory and compliance support, and quality assurance. Hours, pricing, scheduling lead times, and delivery details are not stated in the material on file.

The federal record lists Callahan Meats for meat slaughter under inspection, with cattle, hogs, sheep and lamb, and goats reported, and it also reports custom-exempt slaughter for animals owned by the customer, returned in packages marked Not for Sale. The website states the plant offers both USDA-inspected slaughter services and ongoing custom processing, handles beef, pork, and lamb, and takes orders ranging from a single animal to ongoing bulk services, with customer choice of cuts, portion sizes, and packaging. Custom and private labeling is offered for producers who want to sell under their own brand, including branded packaging and compliance support. Scheduling windows, booking procedures, minimums, kill fees, and cut and wrap rates are not stated in the sources. Contact the plant at (218) 493-4290 to confirm current availability.

Callahan Meats, Inc. 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 website describes an on-site retail shop with beef and pork cuts, plus poultry and specialty meats, and promotes meat packages that can be ordered online. Customers are described as walk-in buyers as well as farmers and wholesale accounts. One posted testimonial mentions purchasing a whole hog, and another mentions paying ahead by phone and having the order brought to the car. Retail hours, prices, half and quarter beef programs, delivery, and shipping are not stated 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.