We put so much commitment into ensuring our animals live in naturally stress-free environments and we certainly do not let go of this attention in the final process.
All of our cattle and hogs are harvested at a family owned abattoir in Scotts, MI called "Pease Packing." We handle all the transportation so that we have complete control and can ensure low-stress handling. Once the animals arrive at Pease, they are given hay and water. At the time of harvest, the animals are made unconscious via a captive bolt gun. The process happens very quickly and is monitored by on-site USDA inspectors. The USDA actually has very strict standards on the entire process.
The key is that the inspectors and owners of the facility have the integrity to carry these standards out. We are very selective about working with processors who we can trust.