I thought cowpooling was cheaper than buying at the store... page

[Brent*]

I've been looking to purchase some grass-fed beef in bulk but I'm coming across a lot of expensive beef, comparable to what I would pay at my local health food store. For instance I live just outside Seattle and when using eatwild.com I get a source like this:

A Quarter of our Delicious Grass Fed Beef from American Alps Ranch


1/4 beef is sold at $7.45lb. Is this really the 'deal' you guys get?

I'm a little confused. I see several farms with similar pricing too

I thought it got down to around $4-5/lb

[Annika]

Wow, that's really pricy. I pay around $4.69/pound for a side of beef. However, I live in Vermont, which is locavore heaven.

[PaulRomasco]

Annika, I also live in Vermont! (living in the Burlington area)
I have been on the hunt for a reasonably priced side of beef. I can't find anything under $7/lb however.
Are you paying $4.69 for grass-fed? Also, is that the hanging price or the price for the actual meat you're left with?
If you are paying 4.69 for the edible meat of half a grass-fed cow, do you mind if I ask what farm you get it from?
Thanks so much!

[Dr. Bork Bork]

7 is pretty steep. I think we pay 6 at most here. For 30 lbs of gf beef, we pay $180 plus tax (about $190 total)

[Brent*]

I think I found a a few a little cheaper, but am curious about quality. How do you know what you are getting will even taste good? Spending several hundreds of dollars on beef is fine with me as long as it is top quality meat that most importantly tastes good. Curious how you guys make your decision on what farm to go with. I imagine farms don't offer refunds on your beef if it isn't good, or is not cut very good.

Thanks!

[jkr]

I'm in Portland and pay $3.05 lb hanging weight including cut and wrap. It ends up being $4-5lb finished, b/c I get bones, fat, and organs. If you are paying $7lb finished, that's not a terrible price, unless you are somehow getting pasture finished ribeye's for less than that. Good steaks at the farmer's market are $20lb!

[Dr. Bork Bork]

I've been to the farm where my critter comes from. The cattle run around on the mountains most of the year, but there were a couple in the pasture. Piggies had a nice pen and mama had a good shelter for her & baby bacons. Chickens were also allowed to run around, except for newly-weaned hatchlings which he kept in a shed under a heat lamp.

[Lily Marie]

Chickens were also allowed to run around, except for newly-weaned hatchlings which he kept in a shed under a heat lamp.

Newly-weaned chicks?!!?
Dr.BB, I think you should go somewhere else to buy your meat. Normal chickens don't have nipples - so their chicks are never weaned.

LoL!!

[Dr. Bork Bork]

LOL. You know what I mean, right? I don't know exactly at what point chicks leave their mum. They weren't newborns, but they still had down and not feathers.

[Lily Marie]

Chicks don't leave their moms at that age naturally. The farmers may have bought a batch from a hatchery - which would mean they don't have a mom. I've got a few of those in a bin, on my coffee table as we speak. haha


This is a good thread. It helps me to guage what is a good price for when I eventually buy 1/2 or 1/4 cow.