West Texas A&M University Meat Laboratory

West Texas A&M University Meat Laboratory is a USDA-inspected establishment at 600 WTAMU Drive in Canyon, Randall County, Texas, operating under establishment number M7124. The federal record lists both meat slaughter and meat processing activities, with a grant of inspection dated March 16, 2022. FSIS classifies the plant as very small, and its reported slaughter volume category is under 1,000 head per year.

Species slaughtered under inspection, as reported to FSIS, are cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb. The establishment also reports custom-exempt slaughter, meaning it processes animals owned by the customer with packages marked Not for Sale, and it reports retail-exempt sales. The listed phone number is (806) 651-3579.

The laboratory is associated with West Texas A&M University. University material describes the Caviness Meat Science and Innovation Center and notes that WTAMU is one of three regional USDA Cattle Carcass Grading Correlation Centers housed there. No website is on file for the meat laboratory itself, and details beyond the federal record, including hours, pricing, booking practices, and product lists, are not yet on file. One secondary directory lists a different street address in Canyon than the one in the federal record; the FSIS address of 600 WTAMU Drive is the record of reference.

The federal record lists cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb as species slaughtered under inspection, along with custom-exempt slaughter of customer-owned animals returned in packages marked Not for Sale. FSIS classifies the plant as very small, with a reported slaughter volume of under 1,000 head per year, so capacity is limited. Booking procedures, lead times, minimums, kill fees, and cut and wrap charges are not stated in any source on file. Farmers should call (806) 651-3579 to confirm whether slaughter dates are available and what the plant currently accepts.

West Texas A&M University Meat Laboratory 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 establishment. No source on file names specific cuts, bundles, halves or quarters, delivery, shipping, or online ordering, and no retail hours are listed. Buyers should call (806) 651-3579 to ask what is available.

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.