American Butchery

American Butchery operates at 13610 US Highway 281 in Santo, Palo Pinto County, Texas, under FSIS establishment numbers M1400 and V1400. The federal record lists meat slaughter, meat processing, voluntary slaughter and processing of meat, and export certification, with a grant of inspection date on file of November 6, 2023. FSIS classifies the plant as small and places it in slaughter volume category 1, meaning under 1,000 head per year. Species slaughtered under inspection, as reported to FSIS, are cattle, hogs, sheep and lamb, and bison.

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. Its website describes the business as locally owned and federally inspected, with a professionally sanitized facility, electronic carcass traceability from start to finish, and a fully covered drive-through unloading area staffed by experienced handlers for drop-offs.

The website advertises custom processing for restaurants, local beef producers, and individuals, along with fresh and frozen retail selections and specialty products. The federal record lists the phone number (817) 613-6095, while the website and secondary directory listings give (940) 463-2517. Details beyond the federal record and the website text above are not yet on file.

The plant reports custom-exempt slaughter to FSIS, meaning it will process animals owned by the customer with packages marked Not for Sale, and it also holds federal inspection for slaughter of cattle, hogs, sheep and lamb, and bison. Its website states that custom processing is offered to local beef producers as well as restaurants and individuals, and that drop-off uses a fully covered drive-through unloading area with experienced handlers. The site also cites electronic carcass traceability from start to finish. Booking procedures, scheduling lead times, minimums, hanging weight fees, and cut and wrap pricing are not stated in the sources. FSIS lists the plant in slaughter volume category 1, under 1,000 head per year, so capacity should be confirmed directly.

American Butchery 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, and its website describes a fresh meat selection and a frozen meat selection featuring its house brand Wagyu beef from Red Marble Beef Co, prime Angus, and pork, all described as locally produced, plus a retail section with specialty products. The site notes a large volume of frozen storage suited to events and invites customers to visit during normal business hours. Halves and quarters, bundle pricing, 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.