.jpg)
The Northern Beef Packers plant in Aberdeen is being allowed to slaughter more cattle after passing a city inspection.
The long-delayed plant earlier received permission to slaughter up to five cattle to test equipment. The city is allowing the plant to ramp up to slaughtering 200 cattle on both Thursday and Friday.
Plant officials have not said how many cattle they are actually slaughtering.
Construction on the $109 million plant began in 2007. Numerous problems including financial issues, flooding and lawsuits have repeatedly pushed back the opening date. The plant eventually is to process 1,500 cattle per day from the Dakotas, Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota.