The demand for slaughterhouses is soaring, as producers are looking to reach new customers through direct marketing and farmers' markets. Companies that slaughter cattle, pigs and other livestock are booked up for months on end, and the demand for slaughter services is so high that processors may be interested in adding slaughter capabilities or building new packing plants.
While there are great opportunities in slaughtering livestock, it requires a financial investment in proper facilities and equipment, as well as employees who must be properly trained. There must also be a high degree of accuracy, as a mis-stun or incident of inhumane handling could result in an enforcement action report. Those reports end up in a publicly available database on the USDA website and remain there for a full calendar year. So, long after the investigation is complete and the slaughter activity resumes, the report of the improper incident remains online.