[AnthonyMouse]

I see the confusion, you're the OP and you're talking about what you suggested instead of what azemetre suggested.

The independents creating their own meat packing plant is a fine idea. Increase competition. It's like a co-op in reverse. They could even accept third party jobs. If they were even smarter they'd open one, sell it as a going concern, use the money to open another one, and repeat until the concentrated market is good and thoroughly disintegrated.

Having the independents come together to form a cartel to negotiate with the existing concentrated market of meat packing plants is the bad idea.