Plan pickup around the finished order, not the slaughter date. A poultry order may take 2–3 calendar days; pork, lamb, sheep, and goat orders take about 1.5 weeks without smoked items or up to two weeks with them. Rabbit orders can take up to one week. These are estimates, so use the pickup arrangement confirmed for your order.
Before the appointment
Confirm the date, species, approximate live weight, paperwork, cut instructions, and any value-added products before bringing animals to the plant. These details help us plan the work and tell you what to expect at pickup.
Chilling, cutting, and packaging
After slaughter, carcasses are chilled before cutting and packaging. The timeline depends on the work requested, not just the day the animal arrives.
Chilling also changes weight. Moisture loss and the removal of bone, fat, and other material mean packaged meat will not equal live or hot-carcass weight. Virginia Tech Extension explains the weight changes that occur during chilling in its guide to carcass yield and shrink.
Typical turnaround estimates
- Poultry: Allow 2–3 calendar days.
- Pork, lamb, sheep, and goat: About 1.5 weeks without smoked items, or up to two weeks with them.
- Rabbit: Up to one week.
Freezing can add up to two days for any species. These are planning estimates, not guaranteed completion dates. We will confirm pickup arrangements for your order.
Getting ready for pickup
Make room in your freezer or cooler before the order is ready, and bring enough clean, insulated containers for the amount of product you expect. Ask us about the package count and pickup timing if you are unsure.
A storage charge may begin three calendar days after invoicing. That charge is not a substitute for the pickup time arranged for your order. Please contact us promptly if your plans change.
When you are ready to plan an order, contact Underground Processing with the species, approximate weight, preferred date, and the products you have in mind.