The Mobile Poultry Slaughterhouse

July 1, 2013

Berlow (editor, Edible Vineyard) provides an in-depth guide to establishing an alternative to traditional slaughterhouses in the form of mobile poultry processing trailers (MPPT). The book is written from Berlow's firsthand experience with creating an MPPT on Massachusetts's Martha's Vineyard through the Island Grower's Initiative, which she founded. The development of the MPPT grew out of local farmers' need for an alternative to shipping their animals to the mainland for slaughter. Berlow begins by walking the reader through the process of establishing, organizing, funding, and staffing an MPPT. All the tools and supplies needed are laid out with diagrams illustrating an ideal MPPT setup. The process of acquiring a permit and the benefits of working with the system in place are provided. Berlow concludes with slaughtering advice and "day of" preparations along with recipes for serving humanely slaughtered chicken. Poultry producing books have proliferated in recent years; however, most have focused on slaughtering chickens for home consumption. None have laid out the details for putting together a small-scale slaughterhouse. VERDICT Readers and communities with an interest in organizing an MPPT will find this resource invaluable.--Lacy S. Wolfe, Ouachita Baptist Univ. Lib., Arkadelphia, AR

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.