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Creekstone Farms Premium Beef, of Arkansas City, brought national attention to the issue of testing for mad cow disease earlier this year when it asked federal officials for permission to test every animal slaughtered at its plant. That request was denied.

Creekstone has cut production to 32 hours a week or less, but has not cut jobs. It blamed the reductions on the loss of its export markets, which at one time comprised 40 percent of its sales.

Bill Fielding, Creekstone's chief operating officer, said profit margins are now so low that it's not worth operating a meatpacking plant. ''It's not just a Creekstone issue; it is an industry issue.''