Black River Meats

Black River Meats operates a USDA-inspected beef plant at W11593 Maplehurst Ln. E in Withee, Taylor County, Wisconsin. FSIS lists the establishment under numbers M47710, P47710 and V47710 with a grant of inspection dated February 23, 2022, and classifies it as a small establishment. Listed FSIS activities include meat slaughter, meat processing, meat and poultry identification, and voluntary slaughter and processing of meat, poultry and rabbit. Cattle is the only species the plant reports slaughtering under inspection, and its reported slaughter volume category is 2.0. The plant also reports custom-exempt slaughter, in which animals owned by the customer are processed and packages are marked Not for Sale, along with retail-exempt sales.

The company website describes the plant as the project of three brothers, Luke, Titus and Ben Kottke, who opened it in Withee after retail meat prices rose and store shelves thinned during Covid-19 and related plant shutdowns. The stated aim was to supply the local community with Prime and Choice beef. The site uses the line "Where the Taste is in the Brand" and describes the business as licensed and insured. A site banner states that the plant is accepting cull cows Monday through Friday, with a call in advance.

The website is limited in places and one page displayed a maintenance notice at the time of fetch, directing visitors to phone (715) 229-9272 or email blackrivermeats@blackrivermeats.net. The services page states plainly that the facility does not process pigs, deer or wild game. Although FSIS activity codes include voluntary poultry and rabbit work, the website describes beef only. Details beyond what appears above, including prices, are not on file.

The plant slaughters cattle under federal inspection and also reports custom-exempt slaughter, where the animal remains the customer's property and the packages are marked Not for Sale. A banner on the website states the plant is accepting cull cows Monday through Friday and asks producers to call in advance. The On the Rail page states that work is by appointment only, that pricing is available by calling the office, and that all cattle must have tags before unloading or the animal will not be paid for. The website states that pigs, deer and wild game are not processed at the facility. Booking lead times, kill day schedules, minimums, hanging fees and cut and wrap rates are not stated in the sources.

Black River Meats 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 services page states that customers who do not have an animal of their own can order a quarter, half or whole animal supplied by local farmers, and refers to a single cuts price list. Beef processing offerings are described as quarters, halves, wholes, hamburger and more. The plant reports retail-exempt sales to FSIS. Listed hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 3:30pm. The website carried a maintenance notice at the time of fetch and directs buyers to email or phone. Prices, shipping and delivery 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.