California producers of cattle, goats, sheep, and swine can now register with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to conduct on-farm slaughter using a mobile slaughter operator (MSO).
This program stems from the passage of CCOF-supported AB 888 in 2021, which expanded California’s on-farm slaughter allowances beyond cattle to include goats, sheep, and swine. The bill also removed restrictions on the number of animals harvested per month and greatly streamlined requirements for ranchers and mobile slaughter operators.
Producers and MSOs who wish to register can find the forms on the CDFA website. Producers need to fill out form 79-021A and pay a $100 one-time fee; processors need to fill out form 79-021B and pay an annual licensing fee of $500. More information about the mobile slaughter requirements can be found on the CCOF blog or by contacting CDFA at (916) 900-5004 or cdfa.mpes_feedback@cdfa.ca.gov.
CCOF is continuing to advocate for solutions that expand access to meat processing through our Meat Matters campaign. We welcome hearing feedback on this program or other challenges that you are facing with meat processing. Please reach out to Laetitia Benador at lbenador@ccof.org.