AR-News: Prime Cuts--Slaughterhouse eying bison next

[jim robertson]

http://www.helenair.com/articles/2004/01/11/top/a01011104_01.txt

Prime Cuts

BY SHAWN WHITE WOLF - IR Staff Writer - 01/11/04

While the discovery of mad cow disease in the United States lowered the 
selling price of beef at the Little Rockies Meat Packing Plant in Malta, a 
recent winter blast across the Hi-Line has added to the worries of the 
plant's general manager.

"A local rancher and the tribe were not able to bring their animals in 
because of snow packed roads," said Leonard Mingneaux, the plant's general 
manager.

Mingneaux has not responded to either concern lightly.

Prior to the mad cow disease being found in a dairy cow in Washington state, 
the Fort Belknap Little Rockies Meat Packing plant instituted e-coli testing 
and USDA inspections of all their products.

"We do not accept downer cattle for custom processing or for purchase by 
this plant," said Mingneaux. "We do not accept live cattle or boxed beef 
cattle from Canada."


A downer or sick cow is a cow that cannot walk or has been ill.

The Fort Belknap tribal government purchased the former Big Sky Beef 
building outside of Malta in a foreclosure sale in 2001.

In August, the facility became the only tribally-owned meat packing plant in 
America to have a U.S. Department of Agriculture inspector on site.

Mingneaux estimated that the plant can slaughter and process 120 cows or 
bison. However, with the current winter conditions, that number will be 
considerably lower.

Currently there are only two tribally-owned meat packing plants in the U.S. 
The other plant is owned by the Cheyenne River Lakota Nation in South 
Dakota, which only recently acquired an on-site federal inspector.

The advantage of having a federal inspector on site is that lets the tribe 
sell its products worldwide.

Richard Miller, USDA's on-site inspector, said no slaughter or processing of 
meat is done without his permission.

The cost to acquire and renovate the former Big Sky Beef building is 
estimated to be over $100,000 so far, Mingneaux said last week.

However, that figure is a low estimate, he said, and the exact costs to date 
won't be known until the end-of-the-year bookkeeping is completed.

While sales seem to have taken off slowly, the plant is gaining a reputation 
for quality and service.

Sue Gregori, restaurant manager of the Chinook Inn — approximately 60 miles 
west of Malta — said she has been satisfied with the quality and service of 
the LRMP.

"We've ordered for about three weeks, and we plan on staying with them," 
Gregori said. "Their products are excellent and the prices are very 
competive."

Food safety

LRMP has initiated numerous steps in the process of slaughtering its animals 
that ensure a safe product for customers, said Mingneaux.

For example, an animal is inspected from the time it arrives at the plant to 
being slaughtered, processed and packaged.

If any concern arises along the process, the animal is inspected, disposed 
of immediately and the entire area is thoroughly cleaned, he said.

Mingneaux said he was concerned about cross-contamination during 
slaughtering and processing meat, but said he has taken steps to avoid the 
chance of any occurance.

In addition, a metal detector will be on site within the next month to avoid 
any chance of something being placed inside their products.

The metal detector is required by the federal government in order to obtain 
contracts with public institutions.

Alternative meat

The Fort Belknap tribes, working with a South Dakota-based InterTribal Bison 
Cooperative, hope to be able to market bison as an alternative to beef.

"Our approach is to look at the health of the bison, considering bison is a 
grass-fed natural product, not contaminated," said Fred DuBray, executive 
director of the ITBC.

ITBC is working with 54 tribes to develop a marketing strategy to sell bison 
in the United States, as well as in other countries.

DuBray said bison will be quite marketable because of its low fat content 
and richness in vitamins and iron.

In addition, the ITBC and the Indian Agricultural Council, went on a 
marketing trip in November to Japan, which is the top importer of American 
beef, to discuss exporting bison from the tribally-owned operations.

In 2003, the IAC traveled to Canada, Tokyo, London and Paris, and have 
future plans to travel to Asia and other parts of Europe.

"This is an ongoing relationship. We are working with Fort Belknap to help 
them process bison that will meet our needs as well as their needs," said 
DuBray.

Reporter Shawn White Wolf can be reached at 447-4028 or 
shawn.whitewolf at helenair.

com.







“The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.”    - 
Charles Darwin

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