Montana Premium Processing Cooperative

Montana Premium Processing Cooperative operates a very small USDA-inspected plant at 230 25th Avenue in Havre, Hill County, Montana, under establishment numbers M47533 and V47533. The federal record lists meat slaughter and meat processing, plus voluntary slaughter and voluntary processing of meat. The grant of inspection on file is dated June 22, 2023.

Species reported to FSIS for slaughter under inspection are cattle, hogs, sheep and lamb, and bison. The plant reports custom-exempt slaughter, meaning it processes animals owned by the customer with packages marked Not for Sale, and it also reports retail-exempt sales. Its FSIS slaughter volume category is 1, under 1,000 head per year.

Secondary listings describe the operation as a Montana registered agriculture cooperative that is member-owned and service based, offering custom beef, hog and lamb processing for producers in the area. No website text is on file for this record, so details beyond the federal record and those brief listings, including hours, pricing, booking practices, and retail offerings, are not yet on file.

The plant is set up for producers hauling live animals: FSIS lists slaughter under inspection for cattle, hogs, sheep and lamb, and bison, and the establishment also reports custom-exempt slaughter for animals owned by the customer, returned in packages marked Not for Sale. Secondary directory listings describe custom beef, hog and lamb processing and a service based, member-owned cooperative model. FSIS places annual slaughter volume under 1,000 head, so scheduling capacity is limited. Booking procedures, lead times, minimums, kill fees, cut and wrap charges, and whether cooperative membership is required are not stated in the sources on file. Call (406) 899-2644 to confirm availability, as listed.

Montana Premium Processing Cooperative 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 buyers at the plant. The sources on file do not state retail counter hours, whether halves and quarters or bundles are sold, or whether delivery or shipping is offered. Households wanting inspected, labeled product should confirm what is available by phone.

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.