Since the beginning of the BSE crisis in Canada, there has been lots of talk about new beef slaughter and processing facilities. Although there have been scores of proposals, only a few have proceeded. Nesco Meats of Melfort, SK has maintained a low profile, but has developed what looks like a viable plan.
Farm Commentator and writer Kevin Hursh of Saskatoon says most of the 25 initial shareholders are producers who have investigated technology from a company in New Zealand that allows a slaughter plant to do a number of different species in an efficient and hygienic manner. “The result is a plan for a federally inspected slaughter and processing facility that would do 50,000 to 80,000 animals per year in a single shift,” said Hursh. “While beef will be the mainstay, the plant will also be able to custom slaughter bison, elk and wild boar.”
Nesco Meats has purchased 18 acres of fully serviced industrial land from the city of Melfort. The environmental assessment is nearly complete. A prospectus should be complete in the near future, at which time there will be a share offering. The $15 million capital project would create about 40 direct jobs. After all the failed plans for slaughter and processing facilities, it’s easy to dismiss these sorts of proposals, but Nesco Meats seems to have done its homework and it has an innovative plan