Poultry Processing
Description
This industry encompasses commercial operations dedicated to the slaughter, processing, and preparation of poultry and small game meats, along with the management of associated byproducts. Businesses within this sector engage in a comprehensive range of activities, from initial animal transport and humane slaughter to carcass cleaning, evisceration, and detailed meat preparation. Many establishments also perform value-added tasks such as grinding, forming, freezing, canning, and packaging to create a diverse array of frozen and shelf-stable products for consumer markets. Typical operators vary significantly in scale, ranging from independent small-batch processors who focus on niche regional brands to massive integrated facilities capable of handling millions of birds annually. These large-scale operations often control the entire supply chain, extending back to farm-to-farm contracts, while smaller entities rely on purchasing raw materials. The industry employs specialized labor across various roles, including field technicians, slaughterhouse workers, meat cutters, and packaging managers. Furthermore, many companies invest heavily in research and development to improve product quality, extend shelf life, and meet evolving regulatory standards. Geographically, these businesses are widely distributed across the United States, clustering in major agricultural and manufacturing hubs to minimize logistical costs. Collectively, they form a critical segment of the broader food manufacturing landscape, supplying essential protein sources to retailers, foodservice providers, and industrial buyers nationwide.
Hierarchy
| Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Manufacturing 2-digit sector | The Sector as a Whole The Manufacturing sector comprises establishments engaged in the mechanical, physical, or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products. The assembling of component parts of manufactured products is considered manufacturing, except in cases where the activity is appropriately classified in Sector 23, Construction. Establishments in the Manufacturing sector are often described as plants, factories, or mills and characteristically use power-driven machines and material handling equipment. However, establishments that transform materials or substances into new products by hand or in the worker's home and those engaged in selling to the general public products made on the same premises from which they are sold, such as bakeries, candy stores, and custom tailors, may also be included in this sector. Manufacturing establishments may process materials or may contract with other establishments to process their materials for them. Both types of establishments are included in manufacturing. Selected industries in the Manufacturing sector are comprised solely of establishments that process materials for other establishments on a contract or fee basis. Beyond these dedicated contract manufacturing industries, establishments that process materials for other establishments are generally classified in the Manufacturing industry of the processed materials. The materials, substances, or components transformed by manufacturing establishments are raw materials that are products of agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, or quarrying as well as products of other manufacturing establishments. The materials used may be purchased directly from producers, obtained through customary trade channels, or secured without recourse to the market by transferring the product from one establishment to another, under the same ownership. The new product of a manufacturing establishment may be finished in the sense that it is ready for utilization or consumption, or it may be semi-finished to become an input for an establishment engaged in further manufacturing. For example, the product of the alumina refinery is the input used in the primary production of aluminum; primary aluminum is the input to an aluminum wire drawing plant; and aluminum wire is the input for a fabricated wire product manufacturing establishment. The subsectors in the Manufacturing sector generally reflect distinct production processes related to material inputs, production equipment, and employee skills. In the machinery area, where assembling is a key activity, parts and accessories for manufactured products are classified in the industry of the finished manufactured item when they are made for separate sale. For example, an attachment for a piece of metalworking machinery would be classified with metalworking machinery. However, component inputs from other manufacturing establishments are classified based on the production function of the component manufacturer. For example, electronic components are classified in Subsector 334, Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing, and stampings are classified in Subsector 332, Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing. Manufacturing establishments often perform one or more activities that are classified outside the Manufacturing sector of NAICS. For instance, almost all manufacturing has some captive research and development or administrative operations, such as accounting, payroll, or management. These captive services are treated the same as captive manufacturing activities. When the services are provided by separate establishments, they are classified in the NAICS sector where such services are primary, not in manufacturing. The boundaries of manufacturing and the other sectors of the classification system can be somewhat blurry. The establishments in the Manufacturing sector are engaged in the transformation of materials into new products. Their output is a new product. However, the definition of what constitutes a new product can be somewhat subjective. As clarification, the following activities are considered manufacturing in NAICS: <table width=100%><tr><td width=10%> </td><td><dl><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Milk bottling and pasteurizing;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Water bottling and processing;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Fresh fish packaging (oyster<br/> shucking, fish filleting);</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Apparel jobbing (assigning<br/> materials to contract<br/> factories or shops for<br/> fabrication or other contract<br/> operations) as well as<br/> contracting on materials<br/> owned by others;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Printing and related activities;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Ready-mix concrete production;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Leather converting;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Grinding lenses to<br/> prescription;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Wood preserving;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Lapidary work for the trade;</dt></dl></td><td width=10%> </td><td><dl><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Electroplating, plating, metal<br/> heat treating, and<br/> polishing for the trade;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Fabricating signs and<br/> advertising displays;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Rebuilding or remanufacturing<br/> machinery (i.e., automotive<br/> parts);</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Making manufactured homes<br/> (i.e., mobile homes) or<br/> prefabricated buildings,<br/> whether or not assembling/<br/> erecting at the customers'<br/> site;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Ship repair and renovation;</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Machine shops; and</dt><dt style='padding-left: 10px; text-indent: -10px;'>Tire retreading.</dt></dl></td><td width=10%> </td></tr></table> Conversely, there are activities that are sometimes considered manufacturing, but which for NAICS are classified in another sector (i.e., not classified as manufacturing). They include: 1. Logging, classified in Sector 11, Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting, is considered a harvesting operation; 2. Beneficiating ores and other minerals, classified in Sector 21, Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction, is considered part of the activity of mining; 3. Constructing structures, assembling prefabricated buildings, and fabricating at the construction site by contractors are classified in Sector 23, Construction; 4. Breaking bulk and reselling in smaller lots, including packaging, repackaging, or bottling products, such as liquors or chemicals; assembling and selling computers on a custom basis; sorting and reselling scrap; mixing and selling paints to customer order; and cutting metals to customer order for resale are classified in Sector 42, Wholesale Trade, or Sector 44-45, Retail Trade; and 5. Publishing and the combined activity of publishing and printing, classified in Sector 51, Information, transform information into a product for which the value to the consumer lies in the information content, not in the format in which it is distributed (i.e., the book or software compact disc). |
| 311 | Food Manufacturing 3-digit subsector | Industries in the Food Manufacturing subsector transform livestock and agricultural products into products for intermediate or final consumption. The industry groups are distinguished by the raw materials (generally of animal or vegetable origin) processed into food products. The food products manufactured in these establishments are typically sold to wholesalers or retailers for distribution to consumers, but establishments primarily engaged in retailing bakery and candy products made on the premises not for immediate consumption are included. Establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing beverages are classified in Subsector 312, Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing. |
| 3116 | Animal Slaughtering and Processing 4-digit industry group | Industries in the Food Manufacturing subsector transform livestock and agricultural products into products for intermediate or final consumption. The industry groups are distinguished by the raw materials (generally of animal or vegetable origin) processed into food products. The food products manufactured in these establishments are typically sold to wholesalers or retailers for distribution to consumers, but establishments primarily engaged in retailing bakery and candy products made on the premises not for immediate consumption are included. Establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing beverages are classified in Subsector 312, Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing. |
| 31161 | Animal Slaughtering and Processing 5-digit NAICS industry | This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in one or more of the following: (1) slaughtering animals; (2) preparing processed meats and meat byproducts; and (3) rendering and/or refining animal fat, bones, and meat scraps. This industry includes establishments primarily engaged in assembly cutting and packing of meats (i.e., boxed meats) from purchased carcasses. |
| 311615 | Poultry Processing 6-digit U.S. detail | This industry encompasses commercial operations dedicated to the slaughter, processing, and preparation of poultry and small game meats, along with the management of associated byproducts. Businesses within this sector engage in a comprehensive range of activities, from initial animal transport and humane slaughter to carcass cleaning, evisceration, and detailed meat preparation. Many establishments also perform value-added tasks such as grinding, forming, freezing, canning, and packaging to create a diverse array of frozen and shelf-stable products for consumer markets. Typical operators vary significantly in scale, ranging from independent small-batch processors who focus on niche regional brands to massive integrated facilities capable of handling millions of birds annually. These large-scale operations often control the entire supply chain, extending back to farm-to-farm contracts, while smaller entities rely on purchasing raw materials. The industry employs specialized labor across various roles, including field technicians, slaughterhouse workers, meat cutters, and packaging managers. Furthermore, many companies invest heavily in research and development to improve product quality, extend shelf life, and meet evolving regulatory standards. Geographically, these businesses are widely distributed across the United States, clustering in major agricultural and manufacturing hubs to minimize logistical costs. Collectively, they form a critical segment of the broader food manufacturing landscape, supplying essential protein sources to retailers, foodservice providers, and industrial buyers nationwide. |
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Classification References
- 01Slaughtering animals (except poultry and small game) and/or preparing meats--are classified in U.S. Industry 311611, Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering;
- 02Preparing meat and meat byproducts (except poultry and small game) from purchased meats--are classified in U.S. Industry 311612, Meat Processed from Carcasses;
- 03Rendering animal fats and oils, bones, and meat scraps--are classified in U.S. Industry 311613, Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing;
- 04Canning poultry and small game for baby food--are classified in U.S. Industry 311422, Specialty Canning;
- 05Manufacturing poultry-based animal feeds from purchased carcasses--are classified in Industry 31111, Animal Food Manufacturing;
- 06Manufacturing frozen meat and poultry products, such as nationality foods (e.g., enchiladas, egg rolls, pizza) and frozen dinners--are classified in U.S. Industry 311412, Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing; and
- 07Drying, freezing, and breaking eggs--are classified in U.S. Industry 311999, All Other Miscellaneous Food Manufacturing.
Index Items
Canning poultry (except baby and pet food)
Chickens, processing, fresh, frozen, canned, or cooked (except baby and pet food)
Chickens, slaughtering and dressing
Dressing small game
Ducks, processing, fresh, frozen, canned, or cooked
Ducks, slaughtering and dressing
Geese, processing, fresh, frozen, canned, or cooked
Geese, slaughtering and dressing
Hams, poultry, manufacturing
Hot dogs, poultry, manufacturing
Luncheon meat, poultry, manufacturing
Meat canning, poultry (except baby and pet food), manufacturing
Meat products (e.g., hot dogs, luncheon meats, sausages) made from a combination of poultry and other meats
Poultry (e.g., canned, cooked, fresh, frozen) manufacturing
Poultry (e.g., canned, cooked, fresh, frozen) processing
Poultry canning (except baby and pet food)
Poultry slaughtering, dressing, and packing
Processed poultry manufacturing
Rabbits processing (i.e., canned, cooked, fresh, frozen)
Rabbits slaughtering and dressing
Small game, processing, fresh, frozen, canned or cooked
Small game, slaughtering, dressing and packing
Turkeys, processing, fresh, frozen, canned, or cooked
Turkeys, slaughtering and dressing
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External Resources
Census.gov NAICS Detail
Official US Census Bureau definition and scope for NAICS 311615.
National Chicken Council
The leading industry trade association representing the US chicken processing sector.
USDA Food Safety Modernization Act
A government resource page outlining the federal regulations governing poultry processing safety and inspection.
CIPS - Chicken Industry Processing Suppliers
An industry directory listing equipment manufacturers and service providers used in poultry processing facilities.
