It doesn't cost much more and it is worth it buy your meat from a butcher

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I've never used a butcher, my area box chain stores ran them out years ago. I do use local farmers. I have read the posts made by others and they are 100% spot on. Please do buy half or a whole cow from a farmer. I use 3.

The first one is a young couple with a few young kids. He has a website, I call him, place my request for half a steer. I make a deposit and he lets me know when he will have one available.

In a few months, he lets me know my half a cow is ready. I pay him the remainder based on the weight of a live steer.

I fill out a form with the requests for cuts I want to the processor. The form is located on the farmer's webpage. The processor calls me when they have it cut and packaged per my request and I go pick it up and pay for processing.

It is frozen rock solid, so I throw in on the garage floor and list every piece and its weight, compare it to my cut list and price and it is always dead on.

I paid 2.00 a lb for live weight for a decade, then in 2020 I paid 2.25 per lb of live weight. Today, it is 2.45 per lb.

It is far superior than that garbage sold in the grocery stores, no matter who they are; Walmart, Kroger or whole foods....... it is very suspect, smells like road kill.

After paying the farmer and processor I have invested approximately 7.10 per lb for my half of a steer. It last me and my wife 18 - 24 months. We use it for barter too.

The second farmer is a adult male who lives with his parents and helps them run the farm. Same prices, but he is alot closer to where I live.

The third farmer is an adult female who runs her elder parents farm. She also offers pork and it is some awesome meat. She is in another state, but it is worth the drive.

This is my main supply chain.
I also have an egg lady who provides 4 dozen eggs a week at 3.00 a dozen. I buy from a farmer who makes cheese, soap, lotion and yogurt.

If you have not built a relationship with a farmer, it is not to late. Most of them are young with websites. Look for them in your area. Start with Craigslist or Marketplace; this is free advertising for them other than word of mouth.

I've never used a butcher, my area box chain stores ran them out years ago. I do use local farmers. I have read the posts made by others and they are 100% spot on. Please do buy half or a whole cow from a farmer. I use 3. The first one is a young couple with a few young kids. He has a website, I call him, place my request for half a steer. I make a deposit and he lets me know when he will have one available. In a few months, he lets me know my half a cow is ready. I pay him the remainder based on the weight of a live steer. I fill out a form with the requests for cuts I want to the processor. The form is located on the farmer's webpage. The processor calls me when they have it cut and packaged per my request and I go pick it up and pay for processing. It is frozen rock solid, so I throw in on the garage floor and list every piece and its weight, compare it to my cut list and price and it is always dead on. I paid 2.00 a lb for live weight for a decade, then in 2020 I paid 2.25 per lb of live weight. Today, it is 2.45 per lb. It is far superior than that garbage sold in the grocery stores, no matter who they are; Walmart, Kroger or whole foods....... it is very suspect, smells like road kill. After paying the farmer and processor I have invested approximately 7.10 per lb for my half of a steer. It last me and my wife 18 - 24 months. We use it for barter too. The second farmer is a adult male who lives with his parents and helps them run the farm. Same prices, but he is alot closer to where I live. The third farmer is an adult female who runs her elder parents farm. She also offers pork and it is some awesome meat. She is in another state, but it is worth the drive. This is my main supply chain. I also have an egg lady who provides 4 dozen eggs a week at 3.00 a dozen. I buy from a farmer who makes cheese, soap, lotion and yogurt. If you have not built a relationship with a farmer, it is not to late. Most of them are young with websites. Look for them in your area. Start with Craigslist or Marketplace; this is free advertising for them other than word of mouth.

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