UGA Cooperative Extension is a collaboration between UGA CAES and UGA FACS.
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Our Impact
The UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development conducted a feasibility study to examine the potential for establishing a centrally located grass fed beef processing facility, or a network of smaller, regional processing facilities to supply grass fed beef to major markets in the Southeast. Most Georgia cattle producers sell cattle at auction for delivery to feed lots in the central U.S. for grain finishing instead of finishing cattle locally, missing out on potential value added opportunities. The study, although still underway, shows early signs of significant profit potential for such a business. It is projected to break even within its first two years of operations. If implemented, the project will offer many of the state’s cattle producers an alternative for finishing cattle locally while supplying a growing consumer market. The project is projected to gross more than $15 million in sales annually when fully operational, while creating between 15 and 20 full time processing, sales, and delivery jobs and offering numerous cattle producers the option to participate in finishing and selling grass fed cows locally at a premium over current auction sales.
