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Random- anyone buy a cow?

I guess a few people at my dad's work go in together on purchasing cows (well, the meat after it has been processed). I'm not at all familiar with this and was looking for any info. Is it cost effective? Is it much of a space issue (I do have a small chest freezer in my basement)? Anything I should know? I think right now we're talking about splitting a half with my dad (though in looking - that seems like a lot, too!).

Re: Random- anyone buy a cow?

  • ak111ak111 member
    Ninth Anniversary 500 Comments 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited May 2014

    My parent's and I split a quarter cow every fall.  It lasts us for almost the whole year.  The ground beef runs out first.  I think it is a money saver and it makes me feel a lot better about the quality of the meat (and knowing where it came from).  I think it runs between $2.50 and $3.00/pound but you're getting some quality cuts for that.  I forget how many pounds it usually is.  We've done it for 4 or 5 years now. 

    ETA:  The price I listed includes the butcher part, cutting/wrapping and everything. 


     
    -Abbey
  • amyjoy18amyjoy18 member
    Ancient Membership 2500 Comments 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited May 2014
    We buy a cow.  We typically alternate each year buying a half and buying a quarter.  We have a small chest freezer and are able to fit an entire half into it.

    One thing to remember is the price per lb is typically hanging weight.  That means it include the fat and bones before the meat is actually processed so if you're paying $2.00/lb hanging weight and the cow is 800lbs and you get a half, you will not get 400lbs of meat.  You will probably get 240-280lbs of meat.  So in our scenario the meat actually costs around $3.25 or so per lb--which I think is a great deal.  Especially for the quality of meat we receive. 

    I will also note that I don't pay for cutting and wrapping because we do that ourselves (my grandfather was a butcher).  In my hometown, that typically runs about .50/lb.  I would expect it to be more here. 
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  • Do it!!! I'm honestly not sure how it all works because Tim and my cousin's husband take care of it. I think this time we got a quarter cow and we're splitting that quarter with my parents. You can absolutely taste the difference in the meat and I'm not a huge meat eater. We put all of it in the garage chest freezer. If you want more detailed pricing and such, shoot me a text and I'll get answers from Tim.
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  • Thanks ladies! And I'll keep that in mind, Sarah! Dad said he needed a few more details - so I'm hoping he has more info. I'd love to split a quarter with him instead - I think that would be plenty (and it sounds like it would!).
  • We want to get a 1/4 cow too...where all are you getting your cows from?
    ourblackandgoldworld.blogspot.com
  • My Dad said that people at his work have been using a farm in Beaver - not sure of the name...
  • kris356kris356 member
    Ancient Membership 500 Comments 100 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited May 2014
    We want to get a 1/4 cow too...where all are you getting your cows from?
    We have considered using Mish's in Gibsonia. I am not sure what there current pricing is, you have to call for their hind/side prices but their beef is excellent. We used to get it all the time when my dad owned his dealership down the street.
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    "He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." - Unknown 


  • We want to get a 1/4 cow too...where all are you getting your cows from?
    We get it from a place in my hometown (which is 3 hours northeast of here) so probably not very helpful to you.  I'm also not sure if they have processing facilities there, since we do that portion ourselves at my parents house. 

    I do highly recommend it though--I haven't eaten store bought beef in so long I don't even remember what it tastes like.  All of our BBQ guests who eat our burgers comment on how great they are though.
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  • All of my knowledge of of buying a cow comes from that I Love Lucy episode where they buy 2 sides of beef thinking that meant much smaller portions than the actually received and Lucy and Ethel hiding it in the furnace.
  • lishielishie member
    Eighth Anniversary 5000 Comments 25 Love Its
    We got our first cow last year, and we're doing a cow and a pig this year. I absolutely love it and think it's worth the money.
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