Analysis
NAICS 31161 is the 2022 NAICS industry for animal slaughtering and processing, part of 3116 (Animal Slaughtering and Processing). Census lists 100 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 3,716 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 556,205 people at an average annual payroll of $50,981 per employee (18th percentile of national industries). 25% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which points to larger operations.
Census lists 6 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 31142, 31111, 31122 and 3114. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
Across its national industries Census lists 100 index entries; typical ones are abattoirs, bacon, slab and sliced, made from purchased carcasses, animal fats rendering and canning poultry (except baby and pet food).
Its goods appear in 271 statistical lines of the US tariff schedule, mostly under headings 1602 (other prepared or preserved meat, meat offal, blood or…), 0201 (meat of bovine animals, fresh or chilled) and 0202 (meat of bovine animals, frozen). That link is how import data is matched to domestic producers, for example in trade-remedy cases.
It splits into 4 more detailed codes. The largest by establishments is 311612 (Meat Processed from Carcasses) with 1,703.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in one or more of the following: (1) slaughtering animals; (2) preparing processed meats and meat byproducts; and (3) rendering and/or refining animal fat, bones, and meat scraps. This industry includes establishments primarily engaged in assembly cutting and packing of meats (i.e., boxed meats) from purchased carcasses.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing canned meat for baby food | 31142 Fruit and Vegetable Canning, Pickling, and Drying |
| Manufacturing meat-based animal feeds from purchased carcasses | 31111 Animal Food Manufacturing |
| Blending purchased animal fats with vegetable fats | 31122 Starch and Vegetable Fats and Oils Manufacturing |
| Manufacturing canned and frozen specialty foods containing meat, such as nationality foods (e.g., enchiladas, pizza, egg rolls) and frozen dinners | 3114 Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing |
| Drying, freezing, or breaking eggs | 31199 All Other Food Manufacturing |
| Cutting purchased meat carcasses and wholesaling meat cuts (except boxed meat) | 42447 Meat and Meat Product Merchant Wholesalers |
Index entries (100)
- Abattoirs
- Bacon, slab and sliced, made from purchased carcasses
- Animal fats rendering
- Canning poultry (except baby and pet food)