The future now - production gets under way at Future Beef Operations
Future Beef Operations (FB0) has started production in Arkansas City, Kansas, bringing with it the likely future face of meat and leather processing in the United States.
Developed at a cost of more than $100 million, FBO is a state-of-art beef plant which includes slaughter, meat packing, the production of cooked meats, pet treats and tanning. Of greater significance, the facility also provides both the beginning and the end of a horizontally-integrated process, where every aspect of the beef and leather production chain is carefully managed to achieve maximum quality.
In order to achieve its quality aims, FBO has developed detailed programmes covering genetics, nutrition, animal health and management, so standards of product quality, animal welfare (a priority at every stage) and environmental compatibility are assured. The FBO management team is led by Russell Cross, the former head of USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service.
FBO places particular emphasis on its database, which will track every animal raised by some 1,000 cow and calf producers and up to 25 cattle growers. As well as providing genetic guidelines, the FBO project prescribes animal health and management systems which the ranchers must follow. Issues of animal welfare notwithstanding, particular care is also exercised to ensure that the cattle suffer no injuries or diseases which might damage their hides. While the throughput is 1,000 head of cattle a day at present, this will rise to 1,650 a day (about 430,000 annually) and the company believes it can consistently meet a carcass weight range of 600-850lbs (270-385 kilograms).
Though meat is the main revenue earner, the high levels of investment which characterise the entire FBO operation are equally evident in the facility’s tannery. As one might expect, this makes extensive use of software control systems and utilises the very latest tanning technology. Initially, the hides will be taken to the wet blue state and it is anticipated that the processes used will result in more top grades than is usual. As part of the quality programme, the system has been designed to get the hide from the animal to the tannery in a matter of seconds.
FBO Arkansas City is said to be the first of four or five to be built and is already scheduled to supply beef and beef products to one of the largest nationwide grocery retailers in the US.
