Archer City deer processor eyes butchering cows

The Archer City Council is considering allowing 4C Wild Game Processing to become a custom-exempt slaughterhouse for livestock in addition to its current business processing deer meat.

4C Wild Game Processing at 711 N. Center St. has operated as a deer processing facility for at least 21 years but technically sat outside the city’s industrial zone, which was the only area where meat processing was allowed. Owner Jay Cooper, who purchased the business two years ago, asked the Council to approve a zoning change to bring him into compliance during its July 21 meeting.

Mr. Cooper said he has been receiving a lot of calls from Archer County families who wanted their livestock butchered for personal use. Mr. Cooper said he has obtained a USDA custom exemption and could process up to 15 pigs or 10 cows per week when deer is not in season. The meat would be strictly for family consumption - not resale. 4C would keep a log of the people who dropped off the animals to ensure they are not missing or stolen, he said.

City Manager George Huffman said zoning laws had to be amended to allow for the slaughtering and processing of animals because the facility is outside the city’s industrial zone.

“If dressing is processing he is currently in violation of the zoning ordinance,” city Secretary Kim Whitsitt said. “Technically I don’t know if you call it grandfathered in, but previous administrations and councils did not stop the processing plant from growing in.”