May's Custom Meat Processing LLC

May's Custom Meat Processing LLC operates at 376 Turkey Foot Road in Mill Run, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, under USDA establishment number M46176. The federal record lists it as a Very Small establishment doing both Meat Slaughter and Meat Processing, with cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb reported as species slaughtered under inspection. Annual slaughter volume falls in the lowest FSIS category, under 1,000 head per year. The plant also reports custom-exempt slaughter, in which animals owned by the customer are processed and the packages marked Not for Sale, as well as retail-exempt sales.

The business describes itself as a family affair. According to its website, Ray converted an old corn crib into a butcher shop about 30 years ago to handle the family's beef and pork, and friends began bringing animals to him or buying animals from him for processing. Sons Evan, Daron, and Brady helped as they grew older, particularly during deer season. A new building including a smoke room was constructed in August 2016. The website states the operation became USDA certified in September 2017; the grant of inspection date on file with FSIS is January 16, 2019.

The plant states that it processes meats under both custom and USDA inspection, and that all curing, smoking, and processing is done on site. A retail storefront, May's Country Store, is located at 3330 Springfield Pike in Normalville, Pennsylvania. Details beyond the federal record and the plant's own website, including fees, scheduling lead times, and carcass weight limits, are not on file.

Farmers can bring their own livestock for processing under either custom exemption or USDA inspection, according to the plant's website. FSIS lists cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb as species slaughtered under inspection. Beef and pig order forms are posted on the website for cut instructions. Curing, smoking, and all processing are done on site, including a smoke room added in 2016. Saturdays are by appointment only, and the site directs prospective customers to call or email for more information about having meat processed. Scheduling windows, minimums, hanging weight fees, and cut and wrap charges are not stated in the sources.

May's Custom Meat Processing 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.

Households can buy retail selections at May's Country Store at 3330 Springfield Pike, Normalville, Pennsylvania, where the plant says customers will find a wide selection of frozen cuts of meats and sausages along with weekly deli features. Listed products include beef, pork, brisket, sausages, jerky, and snack sticks. Gift certificates are available as listed. The website also notes that livestock can be purchased from the business for processing. Halves and quarters, bundles, online ordering, delivery, and shipping 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.