Getting meat and poultry processed as a producer
Find slaughter plants and learn the rules around processing livestock, poultry, and other animals for consumption or sale
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If you have livestock you want slaughtered and processed in order to sell the product to a store, restaurant, or other retailer, you need to use a wholesale inspection slaughter plant . These plants follow inspection requirements and are approved for consumer safety. Use our interactive map and either limit to "LDAF Inspected" using the filters or, when you find a plant, make sure the "Type" is listed as "Wholesale Inspected."
If you want to sell your product directly to the consumer rather than through retailers, learn about direct marketing and custom exempt plants (PDF) .
See also:
All state meat plants
List of all state meat processing plants as of April 26, 2023
Wholesale inspected meat plants
List of state inspected plants as of March 7, 2023
Red meat slaughter plants
List of red meat slaughter plants as of March 7, 2023
Custom exempt meat processing plants
List of custom exempt meat processing plants as of April 26, 2023
Private labeling meat plants
List of private labeling meat plants as of March 7, 2023
Marketing your cattle animals
Slide deck describing the steps to marketing and selling beef in Louisiana
If you are processing livestock for the animal owner's personal consumption rather than for selling in the marketplace, you might be eligible for a custom exemption . This exempts the meat processors from the requirements of federal inspection. See our Custom Exemption Quick Guide .
Use our interactive map and when you find a plant, check that the "Type" is listed as "Custom Exempt."
See also :
Custom exempt meat processing plants
List of custom exempt meat processing plants as of April 26, 2023
The Butcher Kept Your Meat?
Guide describing how animals are converted into carcasses, how cuts are made out of a carcass, and options for aging and further processing. Spoiler alert: No, the butcher did probably not keep your meat.
Poultry has different rules than other animals. See our poultry startup packet to learn more.
If you want to process poultry for meat, your best option is to find a poultry exempt plant.
Rabbit, game birds, and other small animals are not addressed in the Federal Meat Inspection Act, so they fall under the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) rather than LDAF or USDA. See: LDH Parish Health Units Map to find contact information for your parish’s Sanitarian.
Also see LDH Small Animal Slaughterhouse and LDH General Food Manufacturing .
For questions regarding retail food sales, contact the Louisiana Department of Health's Retail Food Program.
You can also find your parish sanitarian .
To file a complaint or inquiry related to meat inspection, contact the LDAF Meat & Poultry Inspection Program by phone, email, or mail. Please provide as much information as possible to allow us to better assist you with your issue, including your contact information.
Contact info
In accordance with federal and state laws, LDAF is prohibited from discrimination in its programs and services on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, disability (including blindness), medical condition, marital status, veteran status, and political affiliation.
To file a complaint of discrimination, contact the LDAF Meat & Poultry Inspection Program main office or write to:
Director, LDAF Meat & Poultry Inspection 5825 Florida Blvd., Suite 4003 Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Alternately, you may contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture at (866) 632-9992 (toll-free) or write to:
USDA Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20250-9410
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry is an equal opportunity employer and service provider.
See USDA poster: Justice for All
Contact info
Our policy is to provide meaningful access to individuals who wish to access our programs and services regardless of their national origin or limited ability to speak, read, write or understand English. Both TTY/TDD and voice users may initiate calls through the Louisiana Relay Directory by dialing 711 or by contacting them directly at Louisiana Relay .
Individuals speaking Spanish may dial 225-922-1359 to leave a voicemail request and email address.
Las personas que hablan español pueden llamar al 225-922-1359 para dejar una petición de correo de voz y correo electrónico.
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