Brothers open custom slaughter and processing shop

ST. ANTHONY, N.D. (KFYR) - Working side by side with your sibling might not be everyone’s dream, but two Bismarck brothers say their relationship is what sets their new business apart.

Steve and Scott Gotta opened St. Anthony Meats this week. It’s a custom slaughter and processing shop that they’ve been dreaming about for years.

Scott has big dreams for this space. He hopes to fill these freezers with local beef, processed right here at St. Anthony Meats. Scott and his older brother, Steve, opened the custom slaughter and processing shop this week after years of planning.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Scott.

The brothers never really thought they’d be butchers; it’s a career they sort of fell into and quickly realized they loved.

“We were in Montana for a time, working together behind the meat department in a grocery store. We wanted to maybe put something together out there,” recalled Scott. “But we decided to move back home, where we have more family support and more connections.”

Scott said St. Anthony Meats is custom exempt for slaughter and processing, and a retail license allows them to sell inspected, boxed beef in their retail space.

“We’re hopeful we can create a product that people are willing to take a little 30-minute round trip to pick up,” said Steve.

The Gottas hope their location, just 15 miles south of Mandan and right off Highway 6, will cut travel time for local producers and hopefully put more local beef on dinner tables.

“With custom exemption, we can service the needs for people buying quarters and halves through local producers, and they can sell that animal to that customer. And we can be the ones who slaughter and process, and then they can come pick up their beef here and bring it home for their freezer at home,” said Scott.

“If people were wanting to market their local beef, it’s a little bit easier to sell if they’re not having to make an 80-mile round trip to go and pick up their animal,” added Steve.

They’re counting on convenience and quality to build something that lasts.

The Gottas said their long-term goal is to become USDA certified.

To learn more about St. Anthony Meats and to buy beef or to get on the processing schedule, visit their website.