Grass Vs. Grain Fed Beef Discussion Turns Ugly

[grassfarmer]

Don't know of any small federally inspected plants -
cost of regulation makes them cost prohibitive -
provincially inspected is the norm. The Saskatoon
place Hobby mentioned is provincially inspected.
Winkler meats is the only federal plant i've heard of in
SK/MB.
As far as I know in AB there is nowhere that does
custom cut and wrap beef at a federally inspected
plant. The Cargill plant doesn't do custom period, the
XL plant (Nillsons) does some custom work for at
least one bigger scale branded beef outfit but it
involves kill and chill only with cryovaced sides or
primals going out to be processed at retail
destination. The Canadian Premium plant at Lacombe
is the only successful upstart federally inspected
plant since BSE in Alberta. They custom kill for a few
branded beef programs but again it is only kill and
chill, cut into primals and shipped out. None of these
plants have the ability to dry age beef so that is a deal
breaker for me anyway.

[newguy]

Weyburn's Western Prime Meats supplies Co-op grocery stores with meat. Most other places buy inspected meat from Alberta and cut and wrap it at their place in Sask to sell. Like grassfarmer said expensive to be a fed. inspected facility. Not sure on Sask provincal inspection facilities and their laws.

[TOM4CWB]

Grassfarmer,

There are 75 CFIA Federally inspected plants in Alberta.

http://active.inspection.gc.ca/scripts/meavia/reglist/reglist.asp

This spread sheet has all the 745 establishments in Canada.

[grassfarmer]

Dream on Tom - here is the short version:

http://active.inspection.gc.ca/scripts/meavia/reglist/
reglist.asp

This was an 2010 list so since then XL bought the
Brooks plant, Sunterra went back to a sheep only
plant leaving 3 as I said.
Cargill, High River
Nillson/XL Brooks
Canadian Premium, Lacombe

[grassfarmer]

Sorry wrong link

http://www.agr.gc.ca/redmeat/rpt/10tbl23_eng.htm

[BFW]

All plants have inspection services. If a plant is federally inspected it simply means that it meets standards that enable it to ship product across all provincial borders and export to other countries as well.

[TOM4CWB]

GrassFarmer,

Did you look at the link?

"Search the List of Federally Registered Meat Establishments and their Licensed Operators

Last Update : 2012/08/02

Download the entire listing"

I down loaded the file, If you can't get it loaded I can e-mail it to you.
I seperated out the Alberta Plants:

EST_NUM NAME
268 BIG CHIEF MEAT SNACKS INC.
400 LUCERNE FOODS LIMITED
480 LONGVIEW MEAT & MERCHANDISE LTD.
529 LET'S PASTA FOOD SERVICES LTD.
571 MOUNTAIN TOP FOODS LTD.
615 GINGER BEEF CHOICE LTD.
688 SPOLETINI/PALUMBO INC.
722 EL MOLINO FOODS OF CANADA (1972) LTD.
329 WESTERN BEEF JERKY LTD.*
038 XL FOODS INC.
128 XL FOODS INC.
146A CARGILL VALUE ADDED MEATS
231 CAPITAL PACKERS INC.
237 LILYDALE INC.
302 INOVATA FOODS CORP.
318 PREMIUM BRANDS OPERATING GP INC.
328 KITCHEN PARTNERS LIMITED
367 SELECT READY FOODS INC.
398 PREMIUM BRANDS OPERATING GP INC.
422 CANYON CREEK SOUP COMPANY LTD.
442 FOOD PROCESSING DEVELOPMENT CENTRE-LEDUC
452 SOUTH EDMONTON PRODUCE CO. (1978) LTD.
511 INTERCITY COOKING LTD.
602 710769 ALBERTA LTD.
672 CENTENNIAL FOODSERVICE
685 INTERCITY PACKERS LTD.
687 TROIKA FOODS (2000) LTD.
S201 TCS ALBERTA INC.
S213 VERSACOLD GROUP SERVICES ULC
S218 CRUST CRAFT INC.*
S228 VERSACOLD GROUP SERVICES ULC
S233 VERSACOLD GROUP SERVICES ULC
007F MAPLE LEAF FOODS INC./LES ALIMENTS MAPLE LEAF INC.
021 LACOMBE MEAT RESEARCH CENTRE
092 LILYDALE INC.
604 TROCHU MEAT PROCESSORS LTD.
657 CANADIAN PREMIUM MEATS INC.
220 NOSSACK FINE MEATS LTD.
683 NOSSACK GOURMET FOODS LTD.
S220 955503 ALBERTA LTD.
720 ALIYA'S FOODS LIMITED
136 SUNGOLD SPECIALTY MEATS LTD.
001A MAPLE LEAF FOODS INC./LES ALIMENTS MAPLE LEAF INC.
065 SUNRISE POULTRY PROCESSORS LTD.
093 CARGILL LIMITED - CARGILL LIMITEE
132 LILYDALE INC.
171 CENTENNIAL FOODSERVICE
205 XL FOODS INC.
235 238632 ALBERTA LTD.
313 H. HEIN FOODS LTD.
496 XL FOODS INC.*
506 BOUVRY EXPORT CALGARY LTD.
591 SUNRISE POULTRY PROCESSORS LTD.
700 CARGILL MEAT SOLUTIONS, A DIVISION OF CARGILL LIMITED
S204 SYSCO SERCA FOOD SERVICES-WEST, INC.
S205 VERSACOLD GROUP SERVICES ULC
S206 VERSACOLD LOGISTICS CANADA INC./LOGISTIQUE VERSACOLD CANADA INC.
S207 CONESTOGA COLD STORAGE LIMITED
S212 VERSACOLD GROUP SERVICES ULC
S215 CALGARY COLD STORAGE LTD.
S216A XL FOODS INC.
S217 VERSACOLD GROUP SERVICES ULC / SERVICES GROUPE VERSACOLD ULC
S224 VERSACOLD GROUP SERVICES ULC
S226 TAS REFRIGERATED DISTRIBUTION INC./DISTRIBUTION RÉFRIGÉRÉE INC.
S231 MILLARD REFRIGERATED SERVICES - CANADA ULC
S234 CLAUSON-COLD AND COOLER LTD.
S239 WESTCO MULTITEMP DISTRIBUTION CENTRES INC.
270A OLYMEL S.E.C./OLYMEL L.P.
404 ALBERTA CHICKEN PRODUCERS POULTRY TECHNOLOGY CENTRE
616 FABKO FOOD LTD.
215 OUELLETTE PACKERS 2000 LTD.*


Cheers!

[newguy]

The big question is how many of those can kill and cut and wrap. Much differant than just registered to cut and wrap hanging beef.

[parsley]

The ones I referred to:
1. Kill
2. Hang
3. Cut
4. Wrap
5. Blend/sausage/spice/custom
6 Can store

They don't have a problem. They' ve done their
homework. They are legal. Viable. And provide a
good service. Lohrdy, lohrdy. Pars