Meat  


Arizona Resources
Colorado Resources
New Mexico Resources
Utah Resources
Regional Resources
Organizations Involved in Meat Marketing
Direct Marketing Meat Ranch and Rangeland
Management Techniques
Small Scale Meat Processing Information
Case Studies and Success Stories
Funding Resources 
 
*Each resource within the Four Corners region will be marked with an asterisk See also:
  

Arizona Resources

*Arizona Department of Agriculture: Animal Services Department
This is the directory of programs and offices in the Arizona Department of Agriculture that relate to animal services. Programs and office links on this page include; the state veterinarian, meat and poultry inspection, livestock hauling permits, brand records, and cruelty to animal statutes.
http://www.azda.gov/ASD/asd.htm 

*Arizona Ranchers’ Management Guide
University of Arizona, 2001.
This newly updated guide contains extension-developed information on a wide range of issues related to Arizona ranch management, including information on production, policy, and economic issues.
http://ag.arizona.edu/arec/pubs/rmg/ranchers.html 

*Dine' be' Iiná, Inc. (The Navajo Lifeway)
DBI is dedicated to conserving the traditional Navajo Churro Sheep breed as well as to educate the community and the public about the importance of Navajo Sheep Culture and spirituality.
http://www.navajolifeway.org/  

*Fresh, Local & Sustainable Foods of Canyon Country
The Center for Sustainable Environments of the Northern Arizona University has published the fourth edition of a sustainable foods directory for Canyon Country, otherwise known as the Colorado Plateau or Four Corners region. The directory includes a listing of restaurants that serve local agricultural products.
http://www.environment.nau.edu/Publications/FoodDirectory/Localfoodsdirectory.pdf 

*Slow Food Phoenix
Slow Food Phoenix is part of the international movement of people dedicated to protecting taste, culture and the environment. Phoenix Convivium members range from professional chefs to home cooks who enjoy the philosophy and the food of the Slow Food Movement.
http://www.slowfoodphoenix.org/
 
*Alta Arizona Slow Food Chapter
Gay Chanler2912 N. Creekside Dr.
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
(928) 226-2891
altaazslowfood@yahoo.com


Colorado Resources

*Colorado Chapters of the Slow Food Movement
Slow Food is a non-profit, eco-gastronomic member-supported organization that was founded in 1989 to counteract fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world.This site lists the various Slow Food chapters in Colorado.
http://www.slowfoodutah.org/main_rockyMtnRegionalConvivia.html#co 

*Colorado Alternative Livestock Industry Contacts
This contact list has been prepared by the CO Department of Agriculture, Division of Markets. The livestock contact list includes information for alternative livestock producers, beef and dairy cattle, horse, sheep, and swine producers.
http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?c=Page&childpagename=Agriculture-Main%2FCDAGLayout&cid=1167928163382&p=1167928163382&pagename=CDAGWrapper#Industry%20Contacts 

*Colorado Beef Cattle Industry Contacts
The Colorado Meat Directory is provided as a service to meat producers. Listings are organized by five major regions of the state: Denver Metro Area, Northeast, Southeast, Southwest and Northwest. *Colorado Alternative Livestock Industry Contacts
http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?c=Page&childpagename=Agriculture-Main%2FCDAGLayout&cid=1167928163382&p=1167928163382&pagename=CDAGWrapper#Industry%20Contacts

*2010 Colorado Farm Fresh Directory
The link below will take you to the main page of the CO Department of Agirculture Division of Markets. From there you can find the link to the Farm Fresh Directory. The farm and farmers' markets in the directory feature the highest quality, Colorado-grown produce. Inside you will also find information about county fairs, agricultural festivals, extension offices as well as a crop calendar.
http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/Agriculture-Main/CDAG/1167928159956

*Colorado State University Extension: Livestock Fact Sheets
The numerous fact sheets on the CSU extension site fall under the three topics of livestock management, health and judging.
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/livestk/publive.html


New Mexico Resources

*New Mexico Beef Quality Assurance Program
The objective of the New Mexico Beef Quality Assurance Program is to train New Mexico cattle producers (both beef and dairy) in the fundamentals of producing safe and wholesome beef products. The program provides the training steps necessary for producers to become "Trained" and "Certified" New Mexico BQA Producers.
http://cahe.nmsu.edu/bqa/ 

*New Mexico State University Extension: Livestock Publications
This is a rather extensive list of technical publications that have to do with livestock management.
http://cahe.nmsu.edu/pubs/_b/ 

*Slow Food: Ark of Taste: Navajo-Churro Sheep of NM
The Ark of Taste aims to rediscover, catalog, describe and publicize forgotten flavors. The Navajo-Churro is considered endangered by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. Only 2000 sheep are now registered with the Navajo-Churro Sheep Association. The Navajo-Churro sheep is a part of the Slow Food’s “Ark of Taste” project.
http://www.slowfoodfoundation.org/eng/arca/dettaglio.lasso?cod=516&prs=0 

*Slow Food Rio Grande
This is the website for the Slow Food's Rio Grande Convivium, representing the middle Rio Grande Valley in New Mexico.
http://www.slowfoodriogrande.org/


Utah Resources

 
*State of Utah Department of Agriculture and Food: Livestock Services
This is a comprehensive list of livestock services provided by the UDAF.
http://ag.utah.gov/services.html#livestock 

*Utah Livestock Producer Directory
This is a directory put together by the State of Utah Department of Agriculture.
http://ag.utah.gov/marketing/LivestockDirectory.pdf 

*Utah Slow Food Chapter
Slow Food is a non-profit, eco-gastronomic member-supported organization that was founded in 1989 to counteract fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world.This site has the contact information for the Slow Food chapter in Utah as well as projects they are involved in.
http://www.slowfoodutah.org/main_rockyMtnRegionalConvivia.html 

*Utah State University Extension: Livestock Concerns
This webpage has information about small acreage animal production in Utah. Topics include information about pasture management and parasite control.
http://extension.usu.edu/smac/htm/animals

 

Regional Resources

*Fresh, Organic and Native Foods of the Four Corners: A Directory of Eco-Regional Food Sustainability
Over 150 local food growers, ranchers, and organizations from the Four Corners region are listed in Fresh, Organic and Native Foods of the Four Corners: A Directory of Eco-Regional Food Sustainability. This guide highlights meat producers in the four corners.
http://www.environment.nau.edu/food/FoodDirectory/Select.asp

*Southwest Grassfed Livestock Alliance (SWGLA)
SWGLA is an alliance of producers, consumers, land managers, conservationists, and researchers that seeks to improve human, ecological and animal health, and strengthen local agricultural communities by educating producers, and the public about the many benefits of grassfed livestock products. 
http://www.grassfedlivestock.org


Organizations Involved in Meat Marketing

Agricultural Marketing Service of the USDA: Livestock Marketing
This website has information about the programs and publications related to livestock marketing of the AMS.
http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/ 

American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy is a nonprofit membership organization working to protect over 150 breeds of livestock and poultry from extinction. Included are asses, cattle, goats, horses, sheep, pigs, rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys. Founded in 1977, the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy is the pioneer organization in the U.S. working to conserve historic breeds and genetic diversity in livestock.
http://www.albc-usa.org/ 

*Dine' be' iiná, Inc. (The Navajo Lifeway)
DBI is dedicated to conserving the traditional Navajo Churro Sheep breed as well as to educate the community and the public about the importance of Navajo Sheep Culture and spirituality.
http://www.navajolifeway.org/ 

*Southwest Grassfed Livestock Alliance (SWGLA)
SWGLA is an alliance of producers, consumers, land managers, conservationists, and researchers that seeks to improve human, ecological and animal health, and strengthen local agricultural communities by educating producers, and the public about the many benefits of grassfed livestock products. 
http://www.grassfedlivestock.org


Direct Marketing Meat

Alternative Meat Marketing
This publication offers general information on alternative meat marketing. Topics include pitfalls to be aware of, production and processing, different types of direct marketing options, legal and regulatory considerations, and information on differentiating products through organic certification, natural and environmentally sound production, and targeting ethnic and religious markets.
http://www.csuchico.edu/agr/grassfedbeef/niche-mkt/2003-proceedings/planning/Altmeat.pdf 

*Arizona Ranchers’ Management Guide, Section Six: Ranch Business Management
This newly updated guide contains extension-developed information on a wide range of issues related to Arizona ranch management, including information on production, policy, and economic issues.
http://ag.arizona.edu/arec/pubs/rmg/ranchers.html 

ATTRA Livestock Publications
The resources offered here deal with sustainable livestock production literally from the ground up. Pasture management, feeds and forages are covered by several publications, while others address care and management for specific animals and marketing of the products derived from them.
http://attra.ncat.org/livestock.html 

Beef Marketing Alternatives
This publication explores marketing alternatives for small-scale cattle ranchers who would like to add value to the beef they produce.
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/summaries/beefmark.html 

Direct Sales of Beef
This guide from the University of Nebraska Extension offers help for producers about direct marketing beef. Topics in this publication include; selecting a processor, pricing, relationship marketing start up costs, developing a clientele and further resources.
http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/epublic/pages/publicationD.jsp?publicationId=13 

Energy Efficient Grass-Based Meat and Veal Production Marketing Manual
The Energy-Efficient Grass-Based Veal Production and Marketing Manual provides information to farmers interested in grass-based livestock agribusiness. While the manual focuses on the production and marketing of grass-fed veal and beef, many of these principles can be applied to grass-fed production of lamb, goat and pork as well.
http://www.cadefarms.org/pdf/Production%20Manual.pdf

How to Direct Market Your Beef
“How to Direct Market Your Beef” portrays how one couple used their family’s ranch to launch a profitable, grass-based beef operation focused on direct market sales. From slaughtering to packaging, through labeling and advertising, Jan and Will Holder transform their real-life experiences to a compelling narrative rich with practical tips.
http://www.sare.org/publications/beef.htm 

Marketing Livestock Products
This is a fact sheet that outlines opportunities and approaches for marketing locally-produced livestock products.
http://www.king.wsu.edu/foodandfarms/documents/MrktgLvstkProds.pdf

Marketing on the Edge: A Marketing Guide for Progressive Farmers
North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Association. This 162-page explores how to approach a wide range of direct marketing businesses such as meat markets, wineries and much more. All related topics are covered including processing, merchandising and promotion. Available in hard copy for $25 from:

Marketing Strategies for Farmers and Ranchers
This publication spotlights innovative, SARE-funded research into a range of marketing options including farmers markets, CSA, tourism, direct-marketing meat, season extension, value-added, sales to restaurants, public campaigns, Internet and more.
http://www.sare.org/publications/marketing.htm 

*Marketing Your Farm or Ranch
This is a brief publication that discusses effective agricultural marketing approaches.
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/farmmgt/03763.html 

National Agricultural Library: Articles on Animals and Livestock
This list compiled by the National Agricultural Library has articles on various aspects of animal health and livestock management.
http://riley.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=8&tax_level=1&tax_subject=10

 

Ranch and Rangeland Management Techniques

Beef Farm Sustainability Checklist
This check sheet was designed to stimulate critical thinking in planning a farm on which a primary land use is production of beef cattle. The series of questions is intended to stimulate awareness rather than serve as a rating of management practices.
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/beefchec.pdf 

*Arizona Ranchers’ Management Guide, Section One: Rangeland Management
This newly updated guide contains extension-developed information on a wide range of issues related to Arizona ranch management, including information on production, policy, and economic issues.
http://ag.arizona.edu/arec/pubs/rmg/ranchers.html 

*New Mexico State University Extension: Livestock Publications
This is a rather extensive list of technical publications that have to do with livestock management.
http://cahe.nmsu.edu/pubs/_b/ 

Rangeland Management Strategies
This publication features innovative SARE-funded research on creating and sustaining a healthy range. Throughout, researchers and ranchers share goals and successes in winter and multi-species grazing, managing forage and other vegetation and protecting riparian areas.
http://www.sare.org/publications/rangeland.htm


Small Scale Meat Processing Information

Feasibility Study for Energy-Efficient on Farm Poultry and Small Ruminant Processing Plants
The study will evaluate the potential energy savings from reducing transportation for processing at remote sites, constructing a state-of the- art, energy efficient facility, and using innovative methods such as composting.
http://www.cadefarms.org/pdf/Feasibility%20Study.pdf 

*Marketing Your Livestock as Processed Meat (p.4)
This is a section from the Colorado Meat Directory. Resources are listed to help with meat processing in the state of Colorado.
http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobheadername1=Content-Disposition&blobheadername2=MDT-Type&blobheadervalue1=inline%3B+filename%3D966%2F885%2FMeatDirectory.pdf&blobheadervalue2=abinary%3B+charset%3DUTF-8&blobkey=id&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobwhere=1191378323904&ssbinary=true


Case Studies and Success Stories

 

*Western Profiles of Innovative Agricultural Marketing: Examples from Direct Farm Marketing and Agri-Tourism Enterprises

This publication is intended to help producers identify avenues for providing more value to consumers at the farm or ranch level.
http://cals.arizona.edu/AREC/wemc/westernprofiles.html


Funding Resources

 

Please see: