Anderson Meats and Processing Inc.

Anderson Meats and Processing Inc. operates at 570 Industrial Park Drive in Hartsville, Trousdale County, Tennessee, under USDA FSIS establishment number M47578. The federal record lists both meat slaughter and meat processing activities, with cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb reported as species slaughtered under inspection. FSIS classifies the plant as very small, with a slaughter volume category of 1.0, meaning under 1,000 head per year, and the grant of inspection on file is dated March 16, 2022. The establishment also reports custom-exempt slaughter, in which animals owned by the customer are returned in packages marked Not for Sale, and reports retail-exempt sales.

The plant's website describes it as family owned and operated, with a slaughter facility that opened in 2021 to serve farmers and consumers in Tennessee. The About Us page states the family's history is rooted in agriculture across generations of farming, and that the business was started in part to address the shortage of available meat processing appointments for farmers selling directly to consumers. Steve Anderson is identified on the site as owner and as the contact for pricing and details.

Services listed on the site include custom-exempt processing of beef, pork, lamb, and goat for families or for animals sold in shares, USDA-inspected processing for meat intended for resale, and overnight carcass chilling for customers who want to break down their own carcasses. Note that the website lists goat among species handled, while the species reported to FSIS for slaughter under inspection are cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb.

The website states that custom-exempt processing is offered on beef, pork, lamb, and goat for families or for animals sold in shares, and that USDA-inspected processing is available for meat intended for resale. Processing charges are based on the hanging hot weight of the carcass, and the site notes that all animals have minimum fees that apply. Cut sheets are due within seven days of drop off, and standard default cutting instructions are used if sheets are not received in time. Organ meats must be chosen at the drop off appointment, since unwanted organs are discarded that day. Animals with horns more than half the length of their ear are not accepted at drop off. Sugar curing of bacon costs $3 per pound on the initial green weight, requires two pick up dates, and requires the full invoice to be paid and all other pork picked up before returning in two weeks for the cured bacon. Additional fees are listed on the cut sheets, and the site directs customers to call Steve for pricing and details at (615) 374-7990. Booking procedures and lead times beyond these notes are not stated. FSIS lists the plant as very small with under 1,000 head slaughtered per year.

Anderson Meats and Processing 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 states that retail meat is available to purchase during normal business hours and that a variety of beef cuts can be purchased on-site at the facility. For fresh never frozen items, the site asks customers to pre-order with the front office at (615) 374-7990. The plant also reports retail-exempt sales to FSIS. Households buying a whole, half, or quarter animal from a farmer may have it processed as a share under the custom-exempt option described on the services page. 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.