Looking into buying a cow, 1/2 a cow or a quarter of a cow. Looking for deeper input.

[1075tech]

Generally, hanging weight is the weight after slaughter before any processing.

Think field dressed. Just gutted. Now think about how much the head, hide, and anything else that gets tossed weighs

 

[repete]

Went down to the cabin today for a short time. On the way back, I came across a few signs in the road in front of a farm advertising meats for sale.

I know less than something about buying meat like this. I am including the email sent to me by the farmers wife.

I do not know if this is good, bad or middle of the road in terms of a good deal.




Good afternoon,
We sell beef pork and chicken by the whole half and quarter. We also sell beef pork and chicken by cut when In stock.
Beef 3.50 a pound hanging unless you buy by a whole then we do 3.25 a pound hanging. Plus cost of processing which is typically around 1.00 per pound more.

Beef price is a bit high but the processing makes up for that. I bought 1/2 awhile back and got a great price of 2.25 a LB but that's cause I know him well. He's an Amish guy and grass feeds them and then finish them on grain for the last 30 or 90 days IDK. Very tender and completely professional processing by an Amish butcher and vacuum packed and frozen. The only draw backs are cash only and he only gets phone calls 3 days a week and only certain hours like M.W and Friday between 7-8:30 AM, Amish phone booth ya know.

Make sure of the age of the cow!!No more then a few years for the best beef.

 

[Cavalry]

As I said many factors affect the quality of beef you eat. Perhaps the animal was not fed to a desired finish. IF an animal is excited prior to being killed it will be what is called a dark cutter

Dark Cutting Beef | Texas A&M Meat Science

Learn about dark cutting beef and how it comes about from an animal undergoing long-term stress before slaughter.

meat.tamu.edu

Very true about the lactic acid. When I process pigs I make sure the kill area is well far away so the others cant hear, see or smell whats going on. All the pig knows is they are getting a tasty treat in this new weird area that has a forklift and a sledge hammer.
Cows are dumb as fuck compared to pigs, just them over there without getting them riled up and have at it.

 

[phatfarmerbob]

The best price on that list is the eggs... the beef price ain’t bad either I wouldn’t be afraid of that. I Once bought a whole cow, sold half to friends for a markup and mine was free!
Granted it was a good price I paid and I did all the arrangements and transport

 

[Saltwater60]

Generally, hanging weight is the weight after slaughter before any processing.

Think field dressed. Just gutted. Now think about how much the head, hide, and anything else that gets tossed weighs

That have what like 7 stomachs though right or something? But yes you’re right about the other stuff weighing a lot. I think for cows you lose a good bit of weight. A quick search says you lose about 35%

 

[phatfarmerbob]

That’s okay your Subsidizing my dog food lol

 

[Carlos Hathcock]

He would put a feed bag on them and shoot them as they were eating so they weren't being stressed.

That's how I wanna go.

 

[livingston]

I have always used the figure of taking a say 1300 pound steer will put about 500 pounds in the freezer . (Not real lean hamburger )... Along with some meat still with bones in the cut. .. 125 /quarter for an average muscled steer. . Some breeds and genetics vary. .. Once had a Hereford that had a very small rib eye... Half the size steaks of a regular beef steer. .. Had to be the genetics of that beef. .. Was a finish heifer, to think about it .. They will have a smaller rib eye,