Small Ruminants Mobile Processing Unit
Virginia’s Own Mobile Processing Unit
An 1890 Capacity Building Grant from the USDA (2015-38821-24338) allowed Drs. O’Brien and Wildeus to design a mobile processing unit (MPU) for sheep and goats in collaboration with Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) and Delaware State University. The customized unit was built by Cargo Trailer Services in Lansdale, PA in 2018.
VSU MPU Team
MPU TEAM ROLES
Dr. Dahlia O’Brien - Project Director
Dr. Stephan Wildeus - Co-Project Director
Davida Rimm-Kaufman - Small Ruminant Mobile Processing Unit Coordinator
About the MPU: The Mobile Processing Unit (MPU) is a 40-foot-long cargo trailer, outfitted and designed to harvest and fabricate small ruminant species under USDA inspection. It is operated by the MPU Coordinator and overseen by Drs. O’Brien and Wildeus.
The MPU has several priorities.
1. To increase meat processing capacity, especially for Virginia’s small-scale sheep and goat producers.
2. To provide meat processing education for community members, including small-scale producers and individuals looking towards careers in the meat industry.
3. To serve as a model, and offer support to other institutions that are interested in building and operating their own MPUs.
MPU Certification
Over the last 2 years, 42 people have been trained and certified in usage of the MPU through the Mobile Unit Certification Program. The MPU has conducted 4 on-farm USDA-inspected processing and has been used for many educational demonstrations at events such as the State Fair and Virginia Ag Expo. The MPU is the first of its kind in Virginia and is a valuable resource for small ruminant farmers.
For more information and current updates, please contact Davida Rimm-Kaufman, the MPU Coordinator, at Drimm-kaufman@vsu.edu or (804)-586-3683.
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Davida Rimm-Kaufman