Your questions answered!
Ordering
Do you offer shipping?
We prefer doing business with local customers and dealing directly with our end user. It creates a better quality experience for both parties, and you have the assurance of knowing where and how your beef was raised.
How does your deposit system work?
We do require a $500 deposit to reserve your half cow or $1,000 to reserve a full cow. Due 30 days prior to butchering. We accept checks or cash.
In the fall, we will have 5 half cows available for purchase.
Difference between buying a cow and a meat subscription?
All cuts of meat come from the same animal.
How do you price your beef?
In the grass fed beef industry, many producers charge you based on the “hanging weight” or “hot hanging weight”. This is because all of the charges to the producers from the processing plants are based on this weight. Live weight (before butchering) includes hide, hooves, etc. Hanging weight is the weight of just the “meat and bones” when the blood, organs, intestines, hooves, and hide are removed.
Your cost per pound is $4.50. This cost covers the purchase of the cow only. The processing or butchering price is set by the butcher. We do have a local butcher we use that is close to our farm. If you would like to use a different butcher, you can make an appointment to pick up your cow and take it to your own processing plant.
Averages do vary based on the hanging weight of the cow and how you have your cow processed, but estimate total cost is around $1600 for a half cow and $3200 for a whole cow.
How much meat can I expect from a half grass-finished cow?
This will vary based on the size of your cow, but you should get close to 175-200lbs of meat from your half cow. Note that grass-fed cows are smaller than grain-fed cows.
How much freezer space will I need for a half acow?
You can typically fit half of a grass-fed cow into 10 cubic feet.
Our Process
What makes your beef better?
Our grass-fed cattle spend their entire lives grazing on pasture and forage, their native diet. As a result, the cows grow at a natural pace, are healthy and not stressed. Knowing where your food comes from and how it was raised is just as important as what they eat. It is proven that grass-fed beef is more nutrient dense and contains more antioxidants.
Why is grass-fed more expensive?
Grass-fed beef takes longer to mature because their diet contains fewer calories meaning they can take up to a year longer to reach optimal weight for slaughter. And, as a result, more money is spent over time to care for them.
What is the aging process for beef?
The butcher will hang the beef in a cooler for up to 14 days. The process of aging reduces the water in the meat, which does decrease the overall weight of the animal by as much as 15%. As the moisture is lost, flavor is concentrated, and the meat becomes more tender. Fat begins to oxidize, and multiple enzymatic and bacterial actions occur similar to what happens in wine or cheese, increasing the flavor complexity.
Education
What does grass-fed / grass-finished mean?
Grass-fed cows are exclusively allowed to forage and graze for their own fresh food. They may be given substitutes like alfalfa during harsh summers or winters, but are kept as close as possible to their natural diet. Our cows are able to do this while it is in season, and then we feed them hay from our own grown and harvested hay pasture. Grass-finished cows stay on the pasture their whole life up until the time they are taken to be butchered.
What does grain-finished mean?
Grain-finished cows are fed grass followed by grain as they are nearing the end of their lives. Grain-finished beef is more marbled with fat. We offer grain-finish cows upon request with an added fee.
Is buying a cow worth it?
Yes, it is the best and most economical way to get all cuts of meat and you get a higher quality of beef.