Our Process

Doing Things Differently

At Zhatka, every step from farm to door is guided by a commitment to the highest quality, sustainability, and respect for life. Our regenerative farming practices ensure that what ends up on your plate is not just better for you, but also for the animals, the soil, and the environment. We’re proud to offer meat that reflects our values—ethically raised, humanely harvested, and delivered fresh.

Processing Practices

Animal welfare is at the heart of everything we do. We take this responsibility seriously, owning and operating our small-scale processing facilities right here in the United States. By managing our own facilities, we ensure that our animals are humanely harvested under strict standards that honor both ethical practices and our Hindu faith-based commitment to respect all living beings.

Our processing facilities are located directly on our farms to minimize travel time for the animals, reducing stress and upholding the highest welfare standards throughout their lives. This approach ensures that animals live and die in harmony with nature, in line with our mission to create a healthier, more sustainable world.

Our small team of processors is integral to this mission. Every team member undergoes extensive in-house training to ensure they not only meet our standards but also grow in their craft. This isn’t just a job—it’s a career where skill, care, and integrity are celebrated.

Learn more about our animal husbandry and processing standards [HERE].

Vacuum-Sealed Freshness, Delivered to Your Door

Once the meat is processed and cut, each product is vacuum sealed at the peak of freshness. We take great care to ensure that your order is delivered to your door within hours of harvesting in refrigerated vehicles, preserving the quality and taste that our process guarantees.

Unpacking Deliciousness

At Zhatka, sustainability extends beyond farming. Every product we pack arrives in recyclable materials, reflecting our commitment to protecting the environment at every stage of the journey. Once it’s at your doorstep, your order is ready to be placed straight in the freezer, stored in the fridge, or, better yet, cooked right away for the freshest, most flavorful meal you’ve ever tasted.

 Need tips on how to make the most of your Zhatka meat? Check out our blog for expert advice on preparing our ethically sourced, regenerative farm-raised meat to experience its true flavor.

 SLAUGHTER PROCESS

We are vertically integrated with processing on the farm.

We are fiercely committed to the well-being of our animals, as well as the quality of the meats and poultry we provide our customers. We honor that commitment by treating our animals with dignity and respect from the day they are born throughout their lives, including the day they are slaughtered.

We are one of the only farms in the United States that have both red meat and poultry abattoirs on our farm. The uniqueness of these two enormous investments demonstrates Zhatka’s commitment to regenerative agriculture. We don’t just talk the talk, we walk the walk.

Our processing abattoirs were designed to the standards of internationally recognized authority on humane animal handling and slaughter. Our facilities are designed to keep our animals as calm as possible. The animals are held in open pens until they are dispatched. The captive bolt is administered by a trained employee and renders the animal senseless to prevent suffering. This procedure is performed by hand, one at a time and the process is taken very seriously.

We only slaughter few goats per day. An industrial processing plant may slaughter over 6,00 goats per day. All of our poultry is slaughtered with an electrical stun knife. Our plants are not efficient, they are humane. This process does cost more to operate, but we believe our customers wouldn’t have it any other way.

Both of our abattoirs are zero-waste operations. All blood is digested to make liquid organic fertilizer, all bones are ground to make bone meal, and all viscera is composted. All of these organic fertilizers are used as soil amendments for our pastures. Hides are either turned into leather items or dehydrated for pet chews. Fat is rendered to make soaps, candles, and lotions.

We have our own water treatment system to turn the wash-down water into irrigation water for our pastures. In nature, there is no waste. We endeavor to operate our abattoirs the same way.

Behind our processing abattoirs is a solar voltaic array, which helps supply some of the power we use each day.

The well-being of our workers is a major priority for us, as well. Zhatka employees work on non-mechanized lines, which is safer and healthier than the rushed, automated assembly lines of high-volume slaughterhouses. The workers on both the kill floor and in the cutting room are artisans trained in several skills. Our employees also have the opportunity to work in other departments on the farm to give them more exposure to the vertically integrated production system at Zhatka.