Carbon County Meats, LLC

Carbon County Meats, LLC operates a very small USDA-inspected plant at 2503 US-HWY 310 in Bridger, Montana, in Carbon County, under establishment number M801. The federal record lists both Meat Processing and Meat Slaughter activities, with a grant of inspection date on file of October 24, 2023. Species slaughtered under inspection as reported to FSIS are cattle, hogs, sheep and lamb, and goats. The plant also reports custom-exempt slaughter, in which animals owned by the customer are processed and the packages are marked Not for Sale, and it reports retail-exempt sales. FSIS places its slaughter volume in the under 1,000 head per year category.

The company website describes butchering services for beef, pork, lamb, and goat, with finished product vacuum-sealed and custom labeled. Its stated workflow is to schedule a slaughter date by phone or through an online calendar, submit a cut sheet, drop the animal off between 12:00pm and 5:00pm the day before the scheduled slaughter date with brand inspection or travel papers, and pick up the finished meat after being notified. Slaughter days are described as occurring every Thursday with a limited number of animals taken each week.

Alongside processing, the website runs an online storefront selling beef, pork, and lamb, bulk boxes, value boxes, subscription items, pet products, and some garden products listed as local only. The federal record lists a phone number of (406) 426-4409, while the website lists (406) 662-5052 for scheduling and general contact. Ownership history and founding date are not stated in the sources on file.

The website states slaughter days are every Thursday with a limited number of animals accepted each week, and asks producers to call 406-662-5052 for availability. Animals are to arrive the day before the scheduled slaughter date, between 12:30 and 5:00pm per the scheduling page and 12:00pm to 5:00pm per the home page, with a completed cut sheet and, for beef, a completed brand inspection or travel papers. Cut sheets are posted for beef, quarter beef, butcher's standard beef, pork, butcher's picks pork, and lamb or goat, and may be emailed to processing@carboncountymeats.com. Posted rates are a $140 beef slaughter fee plus $1.25 per pound rail weight with a $675 minimum processing fee, oversized beef fees of $110, $125, or $150 by rail weight, $75 per beef for single-packaged steaks, and $25 per quarter to split into quarters. Hog slaughter is $115 plus $1.25 per pound rail weight, with $50 per hog for single-packaged chops or steaks, ground sausage at $1.50 per pound, and curing at $2.00 per pound custom-exempt or $2.75 per pound USDA, the latter subject to approval and a minimum smoker load. Lamb and goat are $250 per head USDA or $200 per head custom-exempt, with a $15 per rack French rack charge, a $50 oversized fee over 110 pounds on the rail, and a $50 excessive fleece charge. Custom labeling is available for USDA-inspected processing only, at $150 base without special claims or $300 base with claims such as grass fed, antibiotic free, or all natural, with artwork due one month ahead, or two months ahead for special claims. Rescheduling requires at least three weeks notice; missed appointments or late cancellations carry a $150 fee per animal. Meat is held free for two weeks after notification, then $10 per animal per day, and is considered abandoned after four weeks with no contact.

Carbon County Meats, LLC 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.

Carbon County Meats sells retail and bulk beef, pork, and lamb through an online storefront, including individual cuts such as ground beef, strip steak, bone-in rib steak, tri-tip, pork loin chops, Boston butt roast, bacon, and sausage. Bulk options listed include a Bulk Beef Box, Bulk Pork Box, and bulk beef and pork deposits, along with value boxes and bundles such as the Big Sky Steak Box, Cowboy Steak Box, Treasure State Comfort Box, and Bridger Breakfast Bundle. Several boxes are listed as available for shipping, and other categories include subscriptions, pet products, custom orders, and garden products marked local only. A newsletter is offered for updates on bulk and retail deals. The storefront does not describe halves or quarters for retail buyers beyond the bulk boxes and deposits listed.

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.