The Yukon's new mobile slaughter house is expected to handle its first bison next week.

The $175,000-facility, purchased by the Yukon government, was on display Thursday afternoon during the farmers' market in Shipyards Park.

Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Archie Lang described the abattoir on wheels as a door-opener for Yukon farmers who want to boost their production and sales of locally-grown beef, elk, bison and pork.

Lang said the government will pay for the operation and maintenance of the abattoir for five years on a what is hoped to be a diminishing scale, beginning with a $30,000-contribution for the first year.

'After the five years, the Yukon government hopes the economics will allow the private sector to deliver the service,' the minister told reporters during a news conference and tour of the facility.

The five-wheel trailer, measuring some 10 metres in length, is divided into three compartments.

The rear compartment provides for the slaughtering of the animal, while the central compartment houses a cooler with a capacity to handle 10 cattle, depending on the size.

The front compartment houses a generator, a hot water heater and a storage tank capable of holding 1,350 litres (300 gallons) of water.

During operation, the animals will be put down outside the trailer and winched into the slaughter room. There, the quarters and other sections of the meat will be removed and hung and then moved mechanically into the adjacent cooler.

The minister noted that the local production and marketing of Yukon-grown potatoes is well-established.

'Today's announcement is intended to increase the commercial viability of Yukon-grown meat to go with these potatoes,' Lang said.

For years, the minister noted, the livestock producers have been asking for this type of infrastructure to help grow their business.

Kevin Bowers of the agricultural branch said having the abattoir allows for the inspection of meat and transportation in an approved cooler, and ultimately the commercial sale to retailers, whether they be local butcher shops, restaurants or grocery stores.

Mike Palamar of SuperValu said he is open to the idea of selling locally-grown red meat.

'As long as it is government-inspected, and I am allowed to sell it, and it sells, hell, I'll sell it,' said the manager of the locally-owned grocery store.

'If I bring it in, and I can make a margin on it, I do not not have to make a ton of money, but I can make money selling it, I'll bring it in again.'

Ralph Wohlfarth of Yukon Meat and Sausage, on the other hand, said with him as the only butcher and one trainee at the moment, he doesn't have the time to handle swinging meat right now.

Farmers will be charged $100 a head for beef and bison, $75 a head for elk, $40 for hogs and $30 for goats and sheep.

The abattoir will not process poultry.

In addition to the slaughter fee, meat producers will pay $1.30 a kilometre to have the mobile facility delivered to their yard, and $1.30 per kilometre to transport it to a retailer, as well as $70 an hour for standby time. They'll also be billed for cleanup and sanitizing.

Art Lock of the MacPherson subdivision was selected through a public request for proposals, as the only one of five who picked by the bid packages to submit a proposal.

Lang noted the facility has been built to handle the Yukon weather, and will be on-call 12 months a year.

While individual farmers can call upon the abattoir to slaughter any numbers of animals, from one to whatever, both Bowers and farmers expect a more streamlined and efficient use of the facility will likely evolve.

It was suggested smaller farmers are likely to get together and organize a central location where they can each deliver their animals for slaughter rather than have the facility visit each farm.

While the abattoir comes with a holding tank for water, it's expected that farmers will be also be able to supply potable water while the facility is operating.

Bowers said farmers will also be required to handle the waste liquid and solids from the slaughter in a manner that complies with environmental standards.

The Whitehorse landfill has been asked if it would take the material but has asked the agricultural branch to provide a proposal that will give landfill operators the opportunity to assess what is required, Bowers explained.

Lake Laberge MLA Brad Cathers said the agricultural industry has been asking for this type of facility for years.

He said some producers have already told him they plan on increasing their herds because of the decision to supply a mobile abattoir.

Financing for the facility was announced by Lang last December.

A feasibility study into the operation estimated that in year one, the slaughter facility can expected to handle:

• 40 head of beef;

• 30 elk;

• 25 bison;

• 10 hogs;

• five sheep.

The study estimates the number of animals processed will jump by 400 or 500 by year five. It estimates the slaughter in year five will include:

• 120 beef;

• 75 elk;

• 50 bison;

• 240 hogs;

• 10 sheep;

• 10 goats.