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It's BULK BEEF time!!!!!

SunnyD

Belgian Waffler
Jan 2, 2001
32,675
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Om nom nom! Put in my reservation from the local farm last week for our locally pasture raised grass fed (bulk) beef. Today, got the email that we get to pick which "side" our cut comes from - ordered a quarter of a steer. All grass fed, not grain finished, free range pasture raised, no antibiotics or hormones.

For our local farm, price ranges from ~$500 (super lean) to ~$730 (heart attack on a plate) for a quarter. Our pick is going to run about $630, which is about the same as what we paid last year, and it's been fabulous.

Only drawback is I think I'm going to need a bigger freezer this year.
 

jaedaliu

Platinum Member
Feb 25, 2005
2,670
1
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Holy crap. Does that price include butchering?

Or do you do it yourself on site?

Or do you have to load it on your trailer to butcher at home?

How many pounds of actual cuts do you get with your quarter cow?

This sounds interesting. Wonder how far I would have to drive to get something like this.
 

SunnyD

Belgian Waffler
Jan 2, 2001
32,675
146
106
www.neftastic.com
Holy crap. Does that price include butchering?

Or do you do it yourself on site?

Or do you have to load it on your trailer to butcher at home?

How many pounds of actual cuts do you get with your quarter cow?

This sounds interesting. Wonder how far I would have to drive to get something like this.

Butchered, packed and already frozen, just have to pick it up. Hanging weight is approximately 120lbs for 1/4, butchered you end up with between 60-80lbs depending on the cuts you get. We ended up with about 70lbs last year. We also ask for (and get) the soup bones and liver (for our dog), which the farmer gives us at no charge.

For what it's worth, family of SEVEN (2 adults, 5 children), we still have a few steaks left in the freezer. The ground beef (about 30 or so 1lb bricks) went fairly fast.
 

Red Storm

Lifer
Oct 2, 2005
14,233
234
106
Holy crap. Does that price include butchering?

Or do you do it yourself on site?

Or do you have to load it on your trailer to butcher at home?

How many pounds of actual cuts do you get with your quarter cow?

This sounds interesting. Wonder how far I would have to drive to get something like this.

I don't think they're all that rare, depending where you live. We have a guy who lives 15 minutes away with a sheep farm. You basically go there and pick a sheep, then come back a few hours later and it's all cut and packed up for you.
 

Dirigible

Diamond Member
Apr 26, 2006
5,961
32
91
That's how I buy my beef. Cow wanders the hills in Marin county eating grass. Then it gets killed, chopped up, and put in my chest freezer. Much tastier than grain fed IMHO, despite being lower in fat.
 
Jun 19, 2004
10,860
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My 4th grade teacher spent some time in Vietnam during her college years (one of those teaching English things iirc). She told us a story about how she was in this market one time, and she came across a basket of German Shepard mix puppies that were roughly six months old.

She told us that she fell in love with this one particular puppy and gave the guy the money for it. The guy told her, in broken English, "Good pick. Come back hour. I clean for you.". She thought the guy was going to give the puppy a bath. Imagine her horror when she returned and the guy handed her a brown paper wrapped package.

In hindsight, I have no idea why she told us that. It's not exactly the best story to tell a bunch of 4th graders. If a teacher told that story today, she'd probably be sued for God knows what.
 

surfsatwerk

Lifer
Mar 6, 2008
10,110
5
81
My 4th grade teacher spent some time in Vietnam during her college years (one of those teaching English things iirc). She told us a story about how she was in this market one time, and she came across a basket of German Shepard mix puppies that were roughly six months old.

She told us that she fell in love with this one particular puppy and gave the guy the money for it. The guy told her, in broken English, "Good pick. Come back hour. I clean for you.". She thought the guy was going to give the puppy a bath. Imagine her horror when she returned and the guy handed her a brown paper wrapped package.

In hindsight, I have no idea why she told us that. It's not exactly the best story to tell a bunch of 4th graders. If a teacher told that story today, she'd probably be sued for God knows what.

:eek:
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,345
126
This is actually my first year *not* going in on an 1/8th or 1/4 cow for the last 5 or 6 years. I used to split a cow with coworkers. It was a farm raised cow from another guy we worked with that raised them for a hobby. I eventually grew frustrated with the locker that he worked with. They cut the steaks far too thin (thick 1/2" or so) and we never did end up getting some of the more premium cuts (filet for example).

Plus I'm just getting a bit tired of beef. Some of local lockers offer 50 pound variety packs that have like 2-3 whole chickens, pork sausage, chops, ribeyes, boneless chicken breasts, a couple roasts and a pile of ground chuck for anywhere from $2.50 a pound to over $4.00 a pound depending on the mix.
 

jaedaliu

Platinum Member
Feb 25, 2005
2,670
1
81
Google found me www.beefdirect2you.com Seems legit. (it actually does)

For a low distance of 29 miles away, I can find a local grass fed farmer. Just gotta ask them if I can buy 1/4 cow. Oh well, I can start with a few steaks to see how they taste.
 

JTsyo

Lifer
Nov 18, 2007
12,035
1,133
126
Butchered, packed and already frozen, just have to pick it up. Hanging weight is approximately 120lbs for 1/4, butchered you end up with between 60-80lbs depending on the cuts you get. We ended up with about 70lbs last year. We also ask for (and get) the soup bones and liver (for our dog), which the farmer gives us at no charge.

For what it's worth, family of SEVEN (2 adults, 5 children), we still have a few steaks left in the freezer. The ground beef (about 30 or so 1lb bricks) went fairly fast.

~$10/lb? That doesn't sound like a bulk discount.
 

SunnyD

Belgian Waffler
Jan 2, 2001
32,675
146
106
www.neftastic.com
~$10/lb? That doesn't sound like a bulk discount.

I didn't actually weigh what I got last year. I guestimated. The farm guestimates that 1/4 will get you between 80-100lbs, so who knows. I might be off a good bit. All I know is that the two T-Bones I grilled up last weekend from last year's order were muy asom.
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,402
8,574
126
Ironically, everyone I've asked has said that very same thing. I wonder why? :confused:

bbq legend about cows laying on their left side, so their right sides get more work when they stand up.
 

ghost recon88

Diamond Member
Oct 2, 2005
6,196
1
81
I get my wild venison at $75 processed for about 60 lbs back (depending on the size of the one I shoot). Steaks aren't quite as big as deer steaks though :(
 

mmntech

Lifer
Sep 20, 2007
17,501
12
0
My parents did this years ago. Got half a cow. Had more beef than we knew what to do with.

Will you be suggesting your roasts be cut to the size of an alternator?
 

SunnyD

Belgian Waffler
Jan 2, 2001
32,675
146
106
www.neftastic.com
My parents did this years ago. Got half a cow. Had more beef than we knew what to do with.

Will you be suggesting your roasts be cut to the size of an alternator?

No suggestion necessary... they come alternator sized already (make and model to be determined).