Grass Fed Beef.....help!!

WOE*is*me · 01-30-2010, 06:24 AM

Hi!

I am considering a large purchase of grass fed beef. I have 2 local choices - both grass fed on untreated grass, untreated with any hormones or antibiotics, inspected, ecoli tested, etc. The pricing is different though - and I can't figure out which would be the better deal. Are either of these a particularly good deal?

#1 Full Side

You pay only $2.00 per pound hanging weight and processing fees of 62 cents per pound (hanging weight). your cuts: t-bones steaks, rib eye steaks; sirloin steaks; flank steak; skirt steak; tri-tip steak; minute steaks; roasts; ribs; brisket; stew meat; meaty soup bones; 95-80% lean ground beef. [I did email this person asking about an approximate final cost and poundage which will help me figure things out]

#2 Quarter Side

Quarter of Grass Fed Organic Beef Ready--just picked up from butcher. Get 125 lbs. of steaks, roasts, 95% lean ground beef, brisket, etc. for $625. Raised on our farm with NO added hormones, steroids, antibiotics, pesticides or herbicides on the grass they eat. Dry aged 14 days--vaccuum packed & e-coli tested.

TIA

Keri

ga_kimmie · 01-31-2010, 08:14 AM

Option #2 seems a little high to me. I would ask #1 about what the hanging weight will be and about the approximate finished weight. I'd also ask how they will package it. Do you have freezer room for a whole side?

Brown · 01-31-2010, 08:35 AM

I'd go for number 1. Number 2 is $5/lb. I don't see you paying that much for option 1.

You tend to get about 65-70% of hanging weight in finished product.

I got 1/4 cow for $318. I ended up with 97# of take-home, for $3.27 a pound.

JazzleBug · 01-31-2010, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brown

I'd go for number 1. Number 2 is $5/lb. I don't see you paying that much for option 1.

You tend to get about 65-70% of hanging weight in finished product.

I got 1/4 cow for $318. I ended up with 97# of take-home, for $3.27 a pound.

Good info! I'm in the market for some, too, so this is a big help. Thank you.

Brown · 01-31-2010, 08:51 AM

My guy said he tends to have smaller animals, as they are grass fed and grass finished (some grass feed and still grain finish to pack on weight towards the end.)
I believe my 1/4 animal was 124# hanging weight, if I remember correctly. So I ended up with 78% of that.

My farmer does mixed quarters, though. You don't just get the front or the rear quarter, they split both into whoever splits the side with you and gets the other 1/4. I got over 40 pounds of ground beef (I wanted and expected about half of my weight to be ground beef.) There were 3-5 roasts, and the rest were different steaks; all cut to how I wanted.

Shop around, because prices really do vary a LOT. I contacted a few local places from Eatwild.com, and eatwellguide.org. I ended up finding my farmer on craigslist, though.

WOE*is*me · 02-12-2010, 04:39 AM

Thanks! I ended up not buying either - just couldn't swing the outlay right now.

01-31-2010, 08:35 AM	#3
Brown Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1,028 Gallery: Brown Stats: 175/163/139	I'd go for number 1. Number 2 is $5/lb. I don't see you paying that much for option 1. You tend to get about 65-70% of hanging weight in finished product. I got 1/4 cow for $318. I ended up with 97# of take-home, for $3.27 a pound. Last edited by Brown; 01-31-2010 at 08:53 AM.. Reason: Added more, but just going to make new post.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

01-30-2010, 06:24 AM	#1
WOEisme MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: MO Posts: 2,123 Gallery: WOEisme WOE: Primal Blueprint Start Date: January 2010	Grass Fed Beef.....help!! Hi! I am considering a large purchase of grass fed beef. I have 2 local choices - both grass fed on untreated grass, untreated with any hormones or antibiotics, inspected, ecoli tested, etc. The pricing is different though - and I can't figure out which would be the better deal. Are either of these a particularly good deal? #1 Full Side You pay only $2.00 per pound hanging weight and processing fees of 62 cents per pound (hanging weight). your cuts: t-bones steaks, rib eye steaks; sirloin steaks; flank steak; skirt steak; tri-tip steak; minute steaks; roasts; ribs; brisket; stew meat; meaty soup bones; 95-80% lean ground beef. [I did email this person asking about an approximate final cost and poundage which will help me figure things out] #2 Quarter Side Quarter of Grass Fed Organic Beef Ready--just picked up from butcher. Get 125 lbs. of steaks, roasts, 95% lean ground beef, brisket, etc. for $625. Raised on our farm with NO added hormones, steroids, antibiotics, pesticides or herbicides on the grass they eat. Dry aged 14 days--vaccuum packed & e-coli tested. TIA Keri

01-31-2010, 08:14 AM	#2
ga_kimmie Senior LCF Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Atlanta Posts: 704 Gallery: ga_kimmie Stats: 181/146/120 WOE: Primal Blueprint Start Date: August 12, 2009	Option #2 seems a little high to me. I would ask #1 about what the hanging weight will be and about the approximate finished weight. I'd also ask how they will package it. Do you have freezer room for a whole side?

01-31-2010, 08:51 AM	#5
Brown Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1,028 Gallery: Brown Stats: 175/163/139	My guy said he tends to have smaller animals, as they are grass fed and grass finished (some grass feed and still grain finish to pack on weight towards the end.) I believe my 1/4 animal was 124# hanging weight, if I remember correctly. So I ended up with 78% of that. My farmer does mixed quarters, though. You don't just get the front or the rear quarter, they split both into whoever splits the side with you and gets the other 1/4. I got over 40 pounds of ground beef (I wanted and expected about half of my weight to be ground beef.) There were 3-5 roasts, and the rest were different steaks; all cut to how I wanted. Shop around, because prices really do vary a LOT. I contacted a few local places from Eatwild.com, and eatwellguide.org. I ended up finding my farmer on craigslist, though.

02-12-2010, 04:39 AM	#6
WOEisme MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: MO Posts: 2,123 Gallery: WOEisme WOE: Primal Blueprint Start Date: January 2010	Thanks! I ended up not buying either - just couldn't swing the outlay right now.