You Raised the Animal. Now What?
You've spent months raising your livestock the right way - good pasture, no shortcuts, real care. Then comes the part most Peterborough farmers dread: finding a processor who won't undo all that work on a fast-moving industrial line. Booked out for weeks. Standardized cuts. No idea whose meat you're actually getting back.
Rua Meats exists for exactly this moment. We're a provincially licensed, ISNA Halal Certified abattoir in Foxboro, roughly an hour and fifteen minutes from Peterborough, and we handle your animal your way - start to finish.
The Short Version
Bring us your naturally-raised animal. Tell us how you want it cut, portioned, and packaged. We process it in small batches with a 3 - 5 day turnaround and hand you back an itemized invoice with no surprises. Pickup at our facility, or ask about delivery to the Peterborough area.
That's the whole model. No thousand-head lines, no guesswork, no runaround.
What "Custom" Actually Means Here
Plenty of places use the word. Here's what it means at Rua Meats:
- Your cuts, your call - steak thickness, roast sizes, bone-in or boneless, ground portioning. You spec it, we cut it.
- Your packaging - portion sizes that match how your household or customers actually eat.
- Your animal back - small-batch handling means the meat you collect is the animal you dropped off.
- Your paperwork - hanging weight, packaged weight, and cut breakdown, all itemized.
Why the Drive from Peterborough Is Worth It
An hour and change is a real commitment, so here's what you get for it:
A genuine naturally-raised focus. We work with naturally-raised livestock and process accordingly. This isn't a marketing line bolted onto an industrial operation.
ISNA Halal certification on every animal. That means disciplined handling standards and consistent quality control throughout - valuable whether or not Halal matters to you personally.
Turnaround measured in days, not weeks. Most jobs are done in 3 - 5 business days. Fall peak season may run 5 - 7.
Pricing you can actually read. One itemized invoice. No vague lump sums, no hidden line items.
Serving Peterborough and the Kawarthas
From our Foxboro facility at 275 Frankford Rd, we work with producers and families across the Peterborough region, including:
- Peterborough - about 1 hr 15 min from the facility
- Lakefield and Bridgenorth - just north of the city
- Norwood and Havelock - on the way toward us
- Keene and Warsaw - Otonabee farm country
- Millbrook and Bailieboro - south Peterborough County
Peterborough is a paid delivery area - call for a quote - or make the drive and pick up direct. We also run free delivery to Belleville and Kingston, and paid delivery to Prince Edward County, Napanee, and Ottawa.
Who's Bringing Us Animals
Small farmers and homesteaders who want their naturally-raised livestock handled with the same care they put into raising it.
Restaurants and caterers that need certified, consistent supply and can set up standing bulk orders.
Gyms and sports clubs ordering pre-portioned, ready-to-cook protein in bulk on a weekly or biweekly rhythm.
Families buying in bulk to fill a freezer with meat they can trace, at direct-from-processor pricing.
Beef, Poultry, Lamb, Pork
We process cattle, chicken and turkey, lamb (whole or by-the-pound), and pork with custom cutting. Every animal has to be naturally-raised and meet our handling standards.
One Thing First-Timers Always Ask About: Weight
If you've never had an animal custom processed, the two-weight system trips people up. Quick breakdown:
Hanging weight is the carcass after slaughter, once hide, organs, and head are removed. This is the figure you're billed on.
Packaged weight is what you actually carry home after butchering and trimming - normally 60 - 75% of hanging weight.
So a 600 lb hanging weight lands around 400 - 450 lbs of packaged meat. That gap is normal and every honest processor will tell you the same before you book.
How Booking Works
- Reach out - call or email with your animal, target cuts, and location.
- Pick a drop-off date - we'll tell you what to bring and expect.
- We process - 3 - 5 business days, cut to your spec.
- Collect or receive - pick up in Foxboro or arrange Peterborough-area delivery.
- Settle up - pay on hanging weight and cuts, itemized.
Questions Peterborough Customers Ask
How far are you from Peterborough?
About 1 hour 15 minutes. We're at 275 Frankford Rd, Foxboro.
Do you deliver up to Peterborough?
Yes, as a paid delivery area - call for a quote. Facility pickup is always an option.
Do you sell animals, or just process mine?
We process animals you've raised - we don't source livestock. If you just want finished cuts, order online instead.
What will it cost?
It depends on animal type and size. Contact us for a quote on yours.
Can I get exactly the cuts I want?
Yes - that's the entire point of custom processing. Spec it however you like.
Is everything Halal certified?
Yes, ISNA certified on every animal.
I don't have an animal - can I still buy from you?
Absolutely. Order fresh, naturally-raised meat at shop.ruameats.com and ask about Peterborough delivery.
Book Your Peterborough-Area Processing Slot
Naturally-raised livestock deserves a processor who treats it that way. Rua Meats serves Peterborough, the Kawarthas, and all of Eastern Ontario.