How to Prepare Livestock for Processing Day
Bringing livestock in for processing is an important step in providing your family or customers with high-quality meat. Proper preparation helps reduce stress on the animal, makes unloading safer, and allows the processing schedule to stay on track. Whether you’re bringing in cattle, hogs, sheep, or goats, taking a few simple steps beforehand can make the experience much smoother.
At Easternview Farms, we’re here to answer your questions before your appointment and help ensure everything goes as planned from drop-off to pickup.
TL;DR: Preparing for Processing Day
- Schedule your processing appointment in advance.
- Have a safe, reliable trailer ready for transport.
- Make unloading as easy and stress-free as possible.
- Bring any cutting or processing instructions with you.
- Contact Easternview Farms if you have questions before arrival.
Custom Processing Preparation
Schedule your appointment early, prepare a clean and secure trailer, and allow extra time when transporting hogs. Before arrival, plan your processing preferences, including cuts and specialty products like bacon, ham, sausages, and more. Easternview Farms will guide you through the process to ensure your order is prepared to your specifications.
Schedule Your Appointment Early
When you schedule your appointment, we’ll discuss the type of animal you’re bringing and answer any questions about the processing timeline.
Prepare Your Trailer
Having your trailer parked in a safe, accessible location also makes loading and unloading much easier.
Plan Ahead for Hogs
If you have questions about transporting hogs, our team is happy to provide guidance before your appointment.
Have Your Processing Preferences Ready
Easternview Farms offers a variety of value-added products, including:
- Bacon
- Ham
- Hot dogs
- Bratwurst
- Summer sausage
- Other specialty sausages
What Happens After Drop-Off?
After your animal arrives, it is allowed to rest before processing. Once processing begins, the animal is carefully skinned, eviscerated, split, cleaned, and sprayed with vinegar before being placed in the cooler.
Beef is typically aged for approximately 14 days before being cut into steaks, roasts, ground beef, and any specialty products you’ve requested. Every order is then vacuum sealed, labeled, frozen, and prepared for pickup.
Most beef and pork orders are completed in about three weeks, while sheep and goat processing is often finished in two weeks or less.
Why Choose Easternview Farms?
At Easternview Farms, we know that every customer has different preferences. That’s why we take the time to understand exactly how you want your animal processed before work begins. Our commitment to quality cutting, professional packaging, careful handling, and personalized service has earned the trust of farmers, hunters, and families throughout the area.
If you’re preparing livestock for processing, contact Easternview Farms today to schedule your appointment and discuss your processing options.
Easternview Farms offers custom and USDA-inspected meat processing with personalized cutting, quality packaging, and exceptional customer service. From farm-raised beef to specialty products, we’re committed to providing safe, professional processing you can trust. Browse our frequently asked questions for additional information, or contact our team if you don’t see your question listed.
Yes. Scheduling ahead helps reserve your preferred processing date and allows us to discuss your processing preferences before your animal arrives.
Absolutely. We work directly with every customer to customize cuts, package sizes, and specialty products based on your preferences.
Most beef and pork orders are completed in approximately three weeks, while sheep and goat orders are typically finished in two weeks or sooner, depending on scheduling and processing requirements.
