Specifications include, but are not limited to: • Eviscerated deer will come to processor from MN DNR wildlife staff with heads removed each morning between 9:00am and noon, Monday-Friday. • Deer will be eviscerated (gutted) with heads removed. It will be up to the processor how they proceed with the carcass. Processor will be expected to process and package every deer. Deer are expected to be processed within an 8-hour period after they are received, however meat does not have to be packaged until it receives a “not detected” result. Example, if processor receives deer at 9:00am, each deer should be processed and placed in a cooler or freezer by 5:00pm. The contractor has the option to hang, or quarter, or completely process and package and place in a refrigerated cooler/freezer until a “not detected” result is received. • Processor will be responsible to hold processed venison until that carcass or meat has received a “not detected” result from a MN DNR verified laboratory. Test results usually take 5-7 days but could take as long as 20 days, at which point MN DNR, or a MN DNR cooperator will receive and distribute meat to members or the public who have signed up to receive venison. MN DNR will facilitate pickup of “not detected” meat from processor during processors business hours. Donation pickup locations will be held off processors property and processor will have no responsibility of the delivery or pickup of meat after processed and packaged. • Processor will be required to keep track of and record inventory of meat from each individual animal by the unique identifier tag that MN DNR provides. • Processor is required to package and label with unique identifying number all meat and keep meat from each carcass separately. Meat can be in combinations of ground, steaks, chops, and roasts. This ratio will be up to the processor’s discretion, but they are expected to process all usable meat. • The packages must be clearly labeled to identify the processed meat so that meat can be easily traced to the specific identifying number affixed to the deer. The specific identifying number must connect and identify the packaged meat to a specific deer throughout the entire process. • If meat or carcass receives a positive CWD testing result from the laboratory, the MN DNR project contact will immediately contact the processor and set up a time at the processors earliest convenience to remove and dispose of meat or carcass at the University of Minnesota VDL. • Processor will be responsible to handle and dispose of all waste from deer carcasses by disposing of waste remains in a DNR provided trash receptacle (dumpster). MN DNR will coordinate placement and emptying of the receptacle. • The contractor shall be a USDA licensed and/or Minnesota inspected meat processor. • The contractor shall understand and agree that the MN DNR has the right to monitor or inspect the activities of the contractor to ensure the requirements of the contract are being met.
