Custom Exempt Meat Processing Plants

983 meat processing facilities across the United States are authorized by the USDA for custom-exempt slaughter or processing of owner-supplied animals.

Under the custom exemption, a facility processes livestock or poultry for the person who owns it, and the meat is returned to that owner rather than sold. These facilities typically also operate under USDA inspection, setting aside custom-exempt days for owner-supplied animals alongside their inspected production — so a rancher or producer can sell live animals or shares and have them processed at a licensed facility.