Meat Cutting School

University of Maine Cooperative Extension

icon button for home page - representing "All Learners"

Discover the art of butchery at the Maine Meat Cutting School! Whether you’re a meat cutter, a culinary enthusiast, or a seasoned professional looking to sharpen your skills, our comprehensive courses offer hands-on training from experienced instructors.

Our training in our state-of-the-art facility combines traditional techniques with modern practices, ensuring you gain the expertise needed to thrive in today’s meat processing industry. Learn everything from carcass breakdown and portioning to knife skills, safety protocols, and sustainable sourcing practices.

Join a community passionate about quality, craftsmanship, and sustainability. Whether you’re pursuing a new career or looking to master a timeless trade, Maine Meat Cutting School is your gateway to success.

Cost: $500 | Duration: three Days

To join the waiting list, e-mail melissa.libby1@maine.edu.

Earners of this micro-badge:

  • Learned proper techniques to cut beef, swine, poultry, and small ruminants into wholesale and retail cuts.
  • Understand humane handling of animals.
  • Gained awareness of proper knife safety.
  • Gained knowledge of Food Safety and Personal Health standards.
  • Identified common pathogens in meats and the meat room.
  • Differentiated Meat Quality: Color, Fat/Marbling, and Tenderness.
  • Recognized livestock dressing percentage and yield from each animal species.
  • Summarized meat grinding and value-added products.
  • Described the current USDA, state, and custom exemption meat inspection regulations.

Current USDA, state, and custom exemption meat inspection regulations.


University of Maine Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity institution and provider committed to nondiscrimination. For more information, visit extension.umaine.edu/nondiscrimination.

Boost your skills and stand out with a Meat Cutting School micro-badge!

To join the waiting list, e-mail melissa.libby1@maine.edu.

graphic representing email for contact us button

Do you have questions about UMaine Extension’s micro-credential programs?

UMaine Extension is part of the University of Maine System Micro-Credential Initiative