DATCP Home Meat and Livestock Development

Meat and Livestock Development

BMPB Office Hours Recording Now Available!
DATCP's Bureau of Meat and Poultry Businesses (BMPB) held the most recent session of its quarterly Office Hours on November 15, 2024. To access the meeting recording, click here.

For meat processor news and updates and to receive the weekly livestock market update, please sign-up for DATCP email updates. 

Funding Opportunities

DATCP Meat Initiatives Timeline and Updates

Meat Processor Infrastructure Grants

The Meat Processor Infrastructure Grant strives to grow Wisconsin’s meat industry and improve the long-term viability of the livestock sector through services to meat processing establishments.

Meat and Poultry Supply Chain Resiliency Grants

Governor Evers created the Meat and Poultry Supply Chain Resiliency Grant, investing up to $10 million to continue to grow Wisconsin's meat processing industry and improve the long-term viability of the state's livestock industry.

Meat Talent Development Program

This program aims to help attract students to meat careers, provide financial support to students in Wisconsin meat processing training programs, support program development, and connect the meat processing industry with potential employees.

Livestock and Meat Processing Industry Economic Contribution

Since the late 1800's, Wisconsin's livestock and meat industries have played a key role in our state's economy. They directly employ more than 43,000 people and, with warehousing and distribution included, they contribute $34 billion to our state's economy.

Wisconsin's rich environment allows farmers to raise a wide variety of livestock including beef cattle, hogs, and poultry. Of the 3.5 million cows in Wisconsin, approximately 1.4 million of them are beef cattle. There are also about 732,000 hogs and nearly 56 million chicken broilers across the state.

There are around 500 state, federal, and custom exempt meat processing facilities in Wisconsin. In 2018, Wisconsin's livestock and meat industry harvested more than 2.1 million animals for beef, pork, and chicken with a combined live weight of nearly 2.2 billion pounds. These meats are sold domestically across the U.S. and to more than 90 countries globally.

DATCP Meatings

October 27, 2022 Recording
Materials: Wisconsin Technical College System Presentation |  University of Wisconsin-River Falls Presentation
Weekly Market Update Sample |  Rule Change May Require Retail Food License at Meat Establishments
FAQs: Separation of Meat and Retail Food Operations |  Important Reminders for Wisconsin Meat Establishments
DATCP Meat Initiatives Timeline and Updates

DATCP Engagement

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection's Animal Health, Food and Recreational Safety, Agricultural Resource Management, and Agricultural Development Divisions are highly engaged with the producers and processors that provide safe and quality meats. These division staff also serve as a resource to connect producers with university, state, and federal programs.