McElwee Butchering, LLC

McElwee Butchering, LLC operates at 653 Big Spring Road in Newville, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, under USDA FSIS establishment number M51249+V51249. The federal record lists meat processing, meat slaughter, and voluntary processing and slaughter of meat, with a grant of inspection date on file of December 9, 2021. FSIS classifies the plant as very small and places it in slaughter volume category 2.0, above the under-1,000-head-per-year tier. Species slaughtered under inspection, as reported to FSIS, are cattle, sheep and lamb.

The plant reports custom-exempt slaughter to FSIS, meaning it processes animals owned by the customer with packages marked Not for Sale. It also reports halal slaughter. The establishment website describes itself as offering custom cuts and states that meats can be slaughtered in the religious manner a customer prefers, listing halal and self-slaughter among the options. The site also states the business selects animals from suppliers it describes as sharing a commitment to ethical and sustainable practices.

The website lists posted hours and links to an online ordering site, ordercustomcuts.com. Details beyond the federal record and the website text, including pricing, booking lead times, carcass weight limits, and specific cut and wrap options, are not yet on file.

The establishment is listed with FSIS for both meat slaughter and meat processing, and reports custom-exempt slaughter of animals owned by the customer, with packages marked Not for Sale. Species slaughtered under inspection are reported as cattle, sheep and lamb. The plant is classed as very small with a slaughter volume category of 2.0. Halal slaughter is reported to FSIS, and the website states meats can be slaughtered in the religious manner a customer prefers, including halal and self-slaughter. Booking procedures, scheduling lead times, minimums, kill fees, and cut and wrap charges are not stated in the sources. Farmers should contact the plant at (717) 860-8599 to confirm availability and requirements.

McElwee Butchering, 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.

The website describes fresh custom cuts and directs customers to an online ordering site at ordercustomcuts.com, where accounts can be created for reordering and rewards. It also invites customers to visit in person during posted business hours at 653 Big Spring Road, Newville. Because the plant holds federal inspection for meat slaughter and processing, product sold under inspection may be offered for retail sale, while custom-exempt work is marked Not for Sale and returns to the animal's owner. Retail counter inventory, half and quarter beef or lamb pricing, bundles, delivery, and shipping are not stated 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.