Mobile slaughter stimulates regional and direct sales on farms
October 17, 2024
4 minutes reading
Direct on-farm sales and mobile on-farm slaughter are closely linked. According to a recent press release from EuroTier, there are already around 150 farms and service providers in Germany that are successfully putting this concept into practice. That is why the DLG (German Agricultural Association), organizer of the EuroTier fair, has dedicated an “Expert Stage” to this subject during this year’s EuroTier.
The world’s largest trade fair for professional livestock farming and ranching will take place from November 12 to 15 at the exhibition center in Hannover, Germany. On approximately 220,000 square meters of exhibition space, spread over 13 halls, visitors have access to an extensive technical program with thematic spotlights, expert stages, conferences and industry events, in line with this year’s guiding theme: ‘We innovate livestock farming’.
Mobile slaughter offers a suitable concept for regional and direct farm sales, as slaughtering takes place at the farm of origin or in a nearby slaughterhouse. A growing number of different mobile slaughter units and concepts are opening up new avenues for tailor-made business structures and marketing opportunities.
Extensive mobile slaughter and direct on-farm sales program
EuroTier 2024 offers visitors a comprehensive program covering the key aspects of mobile slaughter of poultry, cattle and pigs. The topic will be presented on DLG’s Studio Stage in Hall 13. Expert speakers will present practical examples, marketing channels and decision-making tools to support the purchase or use of a mobile slaughter unit.
In addition to the presentations, visitors can exchange ideas with manufacturers and operators on site.
Visitors get an overview of the legal requirements and discover which marketing concepts are available. Farmers can learn how to set up viable mobile slaughter operations.
Presentations on mobile slaughter at EuroTier 2024
In Germany, the legal situation regarding the approval and operation of mobile slaughter systems is often challenging.
Alexander Kern, an organic farmer from Germany, will present his experiences with one of the first EU-approved fully mobile poultry slaughter units, which has been in operation in the Odenwald region since 2023. This is now used to market processed poultry meat directly to consumers and retailers. This presentation will take place on the DLG Studio stage on Tuesday, November 12 at 4:30 PM in Hall 13. This opens up many interesting new products and sales channels, especially for direct farm sales, but also brings with it a whole series of legal challenges. Kern will explore these in his presentation.
Ralf Remmert from Prignitzer Landschwein GmbH in Brandenburg, Germany, presents the background, challenges and future visions for pig slaughter on farms in his lecture at the Expert Stage in Hall 13 on Thursday, November 14 at 3 p.m. The modular, semi-stationary slaughter unit for farm slaughter of pigs is intended to fill the gap in mobile pig slaughter of the future. With a slaughter capacity of approximately sixty animals per day, it could be a competitive and economically viable solution for mobile pig slaughter in the future.
Ruwen Hehner, farm manager, and Henry Stathmann, official veterinarian from Uckermark, Germany, will give a presentation on Wednesday, November 13 at 11 a.m. in Hall 13 on the DLG Studio Stage on how to successfully achieve cooperation between the farm and the authorities and how livestock grazing can be implemented successfully and safely.
Mobile slaughter as a service? Alexander Hezner, master butcher from Bavaria, Germany, will present his successful business model at the DLG Studio Stage on Wednesday, November 13 at 12 noon and explain his business reasons, his passion for the profession and his plans to further expand his business. .
Peter Brandmeier and his team from ‘IG Schlachtung mit Achtung’ in Germany have launched a mobile slaughter unit, which consists of a restraint device, video surveillance, hydraulic carriage and a closed blood chamber. Their slaughter unit was subsidized by the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, and has been in operation successfully for several years. The advanced design of the system takes particular account of EU legal requirements. In a presentation on Friday, November 15 at 3:30 PM at the DLG Studio Stage, he will explain his experiences with the construction and use of the mobile slaughter unit ‘MSE 200A’, as well as its practical operation and marketing channels.
