I hate when people say they'll link something then don't. Then I did that! So sorry. This site has charts for beef, pork, lamb, and goat! Here you go: www.virtualweberbullet.com/meat-charts-beef-pork-lamb-goat/

I sell beef ranch to table in Texas. I can tell you that you can buy from this lady with confidence. She is honest and spot on about everything but the difference between skirt and flank steak. Hanging weight is always 63% of live weight and finished weight is always 71% of hanging weight. Here in Texas we also have state inspections that are available for the legal resale of meat within our state. The vacuum packaging and kill fee together average about $1.05/lb. So, when we charge $4.90/lb delivered, we are only getting $3.85/lb less fuel. Feel free to reverse engineer the equation for comparison. Again, this lady is absolutely trustworthy.

A farmer is usually just a farmer, they raise the animals. Butchers of live animals are a subcontractor but don’t do retail sales. Your local butcher most likely buys not from the farm but from the wholesale butcher, prepackaged cuts, and it’s rare to find a local butcher that has the special cut often referred to as the butchers cut.

As a wife of a cattle farmer, I really appreciate your video. We only put aside 7 steers yearly for our friends and family but I deal with the customers, which most have been with us for over 20 years. I’ve had “newbies” that didn’t understand the process and refused to pay what we agreed on for the hanging weight because they felt we screwed them. They don’t realize that they are already paying for waste every day at the store on most of their food items.

This is fantastic! I love watching the Bearded Butchers and was not sure I would gain anything from this but it was exceptionally well done. Great pace, well focused on the important information. Your delivery was spot on. I would not change a thing about this. Thank you very much.

Such a clear, complete explanation!

This was a very informative video. Thank you for giving us some knowledge for our first purchase.

THANK YOU! You made this so much easier to understand.

Excellent video, you answered a whole bunch of questions and gave some helpful tips.

This is a great video. So informative.

Thanks for the video. My parents did this when I was a kid. I never knew the details, and now I do :)

Excellent video. You answered a lot of my questions I’ve had lately trying to buy meat this way.

My family had an Uncle that was a pig farmer. My mom always bought our meat from Uncle Gene. I never could compare pork because l was so young. But the closer to home you get your food the better off you are. Be a localvarian. This helps the farmer and you get a quality meat.

Thank you for doing this video! I've sent the link to people with questions about real "farm to table" process

To anyone who did not know how this works, they do now. We have raised our own beef and bought from local farmers. It is such a savings. You have such a great way of teaching.

This was awesome! I was about to pull the on trigger on a 1/2 but didn't know really what to expect. Thanks again!

Awesome video! Thanks for all the info, you pretty much answered all of my questions.

Awesome video on farm to freezer meat! Thanks for the amazing information that is super easy to understand!!!!

Very informative and detailed.

Great information video! Thank you!

thank you for all this useful information.

Thank you- this video is so helpful!

Thanks for the video, I didn't know the USDA put out the chart. Confirms I have been getting a great deal from my local guy.

Awesome video, thank you for making it.

Thank you. This video helps explain a lot about buying beef. Sometimes you feel stupid for asking questions that some people assume you already know the answers to.

THANK YOU, very educational video.

Awesome video!

Much respect for this video. I watched it three times just to make notes. Thanks for the detailed breakdown on this process

lol. The beginning explanation of how you got started mirrored my first experience. The farmer sat there doing the whole "well it depends" until my eyes started to glaze over and I just wished him luck and went on my way.

this was very informative

Great info.....thanks

You basically nailed it. After 15 +/- years of selling freezer beef i have gotten a lot better at explaining this type of stuff to customers. One minor addition. Vacuum seal. Some offer it as option some don't. My butcher offered it for years at an extra charge but you had to ask for it. Now it's standard with no extra charge, but he will do paper wrap it asked. My opinion is the vacuum seal keeps longer in freezer without freezer burn but I know people with paper wrap with no problem.

Thank you SOOOOO much for this, I've been wanting to buy beef like this, but I've been a little hesitant to pull the trigger because I knew very little. You have cleared up a lot if things for me. Now I have to find a good butcher.....Thank you 😊

Nice info!

Very informative great video, lots to think about with meat prices going through the roof.

Very informative and interesting! This is something i wish to do.

Great video. Well done. It is much clearer now to understand the process. I bought a quarter beef in March blind. I still got great cuts but now I'm buying a half beef and you have helped enormously on what cuts to get. Thanks again

Thanks for the information I've been thinking about getting a half a beef for a wile I've got a big chest freezer that's kinda bare now I gotta find a farmer.

Thank You. Same for pork. Always looking for more info. Small farm and raise are own.

Thanks for a very clear and concise explanation! I, too, have always been confused with the different terms, etc. Now I know what to expect and what questions to ask! 🤗💕

My wife and I have bought a 1/4 of a local grass feed black Angus! It's the best beef we have ever had! I believe around $400 ! It saves us a bunch of money and the quality is amazing!

Thank you 😊😊👍👍

Kick butt thanks guys. 2024 i just spent 1750 local but recieved 1/2 beef in 6 days never frozen. Gotta love inflation!!

great video. Thank You. I have been considering buying a half to support family-owned farms and getting away from the corporate stores. Your video helped me decide I am definitely doing it.

I’m new to homesteading, your videos are very informative. ! Now to find a local organic farmer who has beef and hogs in zone 6b !!!

Excellent

Awesome Dang Video!!!!!!!!!

Thank you this video really answered a lot of questions now all I need is to hunt for a good farmer in Northern California

Thanks!!!!!!

For those in Northern California, check out Stemple Creek Ranch in Marin County (Tomales, CA). 100% pasture raised, grass fed/finished, organic black angus beef, berkshire pork and lamb. Best meat I've ever had (besides Wagyu). You can buy 1/4, 1/2 and whole beeves. Also individual cuts are available.

Very informative. Now I can buy from a local farmer with more confidence. Thanks.

Our farmer actually does their own butchering on site, they have a store front for the public to pick up the beef, pig or even sheep.

I buy a 1/4 beef each Fall, I love it. I always ask for the skirt steak and Flank steak. Cut it into thin strips perpendicular to the grain and fry rare to med rare and it is WONDERFUL with salt and pepper, delicious flavor and it is tender if not over cooked.

Thanks for this info. I bought a quarter beef once from a guy I worked with. He didn't say anything about live weight and I thought he really ripped me off because I expected to receive the amount of pounds I paid for. I asked around and found that was normal, but I never felt comfortable about it because he surprised me with hidden costs.

Oh wow Lorella I wish I had reached out to you when I bought my first cow/beef/steer, not sure what to call it. Totally got taken to the cleaners we over paid on live weight, had a terrible butcher (not usda certified) and the meat ended up only fit to feed to our dog. The second attempt was better. After watching this, I realize there was so much more I did not know. My next one will be even better! Wow I can’t believe people from across the country would want to drive out there and buy one of your steers/cow/things that’s totally crazy. I bet those people really trust you.

Excellent video! I live in Belgium 🇧🇪 and we bought a percentage of a cow. Pasture fed from a local farmer. It was our first time buying meat this way so we chose the smallest weight of 10 kilo. Once the whole cow was sold it was then hung and butchered. We got our meat delivered for an extra charge within a month. I have to say it’s the best beef we’ve had! We will definitely be doing it again but next time we will buy more of the cow.

Thank you for this video. I have just ordered a half a beef from my cousin that I know how they are raised. I am getting half the beef they have been raising for themselves. I know the quality is going to be very good because I have had their meat before and the price is so much better than anything I could get at the store not counting that this is better than organic. People need to talk to local farmers and get back to our roots for groceries. Thank you

Ordered half a grain and half a grass finished cow last year to try both ! I absolutely prefer the grain finished! I know grass is healthier but it’s gamier and the grain is just perfect and tender ! This year I’m getting a whole grain finished angus ! Also ordered a whole hog ! Once you get it this fresh you can never go back to the store

Excellent well thought out video! Ty for this primer course. I filled up my freezers with mostly hamburger I got at $2.60-$2.99 lb. I vacuum sealed it. My two fridge freezers and 7cu garage freezer are full. I don't know how much meat typical home freezers hold and my garage freezer. Should I look at getting down half way and doing 1/4 cow or is that all they can hold? I love brisket, steak, belly, flank roast n hamburger.

Thank you for the info. Looking to get our first 1/2 🥩

GREAT !

I have been selling anything from a pound of ground beef to a whole cow since 2006 in New York . I liked this video. There's a lot of good information on it.. I have been selling packages around the five boroughs. I have explained how it works a thousand times. Its a big challenge getting people to understand the benefits of buying from local farmers . We are all creatures of habit. Its hard to try and convince people to try something new. People tend to over think about it. I understand all their concerns. You would think in a city so big you wouldn't be able to raise enough beef to meet the demands. Simply not the case. Usually ends up, farmers like myself bringing cattle to the sales barn where they are auctioned off. Another option directly to one of the meat packing plants. Where do you think the meat your buying in the local grocery stores come from? Believe me the price we get paid at times are ridiculous. Not in a good way. I always point out the only disadvantage is the meat variation from one cow to the other. Just last week had a hole steer grounded in to hamburger. Do to the age and other circumstances. I will try out steaks and other cuts off the other one next week when I pick it up. Sometimes it can be hit or miss. If you are willing to wait farmers have more control on raising something just for you. Remember a crock pot goes a long way. Its the scheduling getting an appointment at the butcher that makes things complicated. Hopefully this was a little more helpful.

We just put up our 1/2 beef this weekend.

So, I'm in southeast Alabama most every processor here charges a slaughter fee, then price per pound, and my guy charges $2 per box and avg 1/2 beef is 4-5 boxes. They two popular in my area are $80 and $85 for a slaughter fee plus .95 cents a pound, some custom cuts cost a little extra. I dropped a 20 month Angus dairy mix steer Monday hanging hot carcus was 432 lbs. Not bad for a dairy beef. So in all minus any extra fees maybe for the ox tails, looking at around $506. The avg farmer is seeing halves and qtrs at $4.50 to 6.50 a pound hanging weight. Believe my processor sells his cattle at 6.75 a pound grain finished and 7.50 ish for grass feed and finished per pound. So, processing your own beef if you have the means is worth it per say. Trade of is raising it my steer probably has eaten close to $1000 in feed since early fall of 2020.

Thank you so much! We bought for the first time a 1/2 pig and 1/2 a cow. Great information. Now I hve to get an freezer chest - I really don’t trust the upright! I fear the worst scenario of it being left open!

Great video! With current packing companies marking up meat so high, buying local farm raised is the way we are going 💯 of the time.

We just purchased our first cow. We went in on 1/4. The hang weight was 764. The hang/dry time was 10 days. The Take-home ended up being 111-115lbs. A piece per quarter.. That totals 444-460 of meat, including soup bones to take home. That’s only a 60% yield from the hang weight. Is that a bad thing? I’m not sure if I should be upset or satisfied. I mean, I’m happy that I purchased beef from a source that I know where it came from. I’m just curious if this is not a good thing so the next time we decide to purchase a cow we can choose a different heat processor. Any info would help. Thank you so much and great video. Extremely knowledgeable and informative.

We purchased 1/2 beef from our neighbor May of 2021…avg cost per pound was about $3.85/lb. Probably cost more this year, but we have reserved a half for June/july

Great Video. Thanks for the info we are buying half a cow in 2 weeks I hope are freezer is big enough LOL 😀

Location, Location, location. Price per pound depends on where you live. In Washington state, our local butcher sells grass finished beef at $3.29 @ lb live weight. As a farmer I sell my grain finished black angus for $7.00 @ lb hanging weight. (2023) With the price of C.O.B., hay, fuel, and machinery constantly increasing, my prices have to go up. My neighbor sold his grass finished herefords for $7.00@lb last year. Drought is also killing us. I used to hear farmers complain about everything. Now I know why. Great job.

Very well done presentation

Good Stuff Great Tips😄👍🏿 How size Freeze Box needed?

One cost often overlooked is the freezer. In nevada our garage freezer increases our electricity a fair ammount

When we sold our last freezer steer at $2.50 hanging weight. My brother figured out with the butcher cost. It averaged right at $5 a pound. A half weighed 455 pounds , from a 1400 pound steer at 22 months. With cost of corn now. We are going up to $2.75 a pound for the rest of 2022 , for the next 2 or 3 steers. Then going to $3. $3 should be almost $5.50 including butcher fees. But you get a steak for that also, instead of paying $20+ each. I hope I can hold the price there, but property taxes and corn are expensive

My local rancher also does his own processing. Even easier 1 stop shopping.

Fantastic Video :D Thanks for sharing :D

I can tell you a good mixture to sugar cure your hams and shoulders of your hogs.

Hello Lorella. After reading many comments, I noticed that the cow’s head was not part of the deal, but I never got the organ meats either unless I bought the whole cow. Well, bringing home the cows head, I seasoned it, covered it in foil and baked it at a low heat for 16+ hours and had some very tasting meat (over 8 lbs.) from it, and the cheek meat rivaled the steak meat in taste and tenderness. The bonus for me was watching my two dogs get everything off the skull I missed, and I didn’t mess with the brain. That was their ‘ice cream’. Never turn down the head if it is offered, because there are customers at the butcher shop asking for that and nothing else.

We just got our 1/2 beef…..in general it’s 3.66 per lb, and .97 cents cut wrap what’s not included is the butcher (put down) $60.00 so for 457 pounds it cost us 1,713.00 and 475.00 cut wrap so just over 2,000.00 for almost 500 lb. Beef…..we have been doing this for 32 years, our 5 kids were raised on farmed beef pork and chickens. The price increase from 30 years ago is huge, we use to pay 1.24 a pound.

Lorella, where are the links for the charts for pork and beef you mentioned in the video?

Very nicely done. I haven't got the full cost for having my steer butchered, yet. So far I have spent $90 for him. Maybe a little more because I have been feeding him a little alfalfa to bucket train him with. I need to visit the local butcher so I know what his fee is going to be. Another expense is going to be the freezer to put the meat in.

I raise sheep, pigs and my uncle raised the beef... this is helpful for my people to watch and understand how much they get and cost... thanks

You mentioned the organs are for the dogs. Do you cook it beforehand? Is it whole ? Is it minced? Or do the butchers cut, slice , dice, whatever you request? Thanks. Great video, really interesting.

Hello. I love your videos. Last year I started buying hogs from a local farmer and the absolute best best out of all of it was the bacon. Eh it was soo yummy and way better then store. I’m in iowa and I am not sure if I heard you right about how much you sold your 1/4 cow you said about $5-600 now is that including the butcher? I just paid 303 for butcher and 710 to my farmer for also 1/4 cow. I’ll always go to farmers I lived on farm for about 4 years and my son is in FFA. So I love it.

the best ground beef I've had was when i bought grass fed beef ! go big! get a 4 person order going its worth the weight lol

We order our grass fed black Angus from a local farmer and butcher for decades. How people used to do it. We pay about $3.98 per pound. We get a year of meat for roughly $600. We order in Dec and pick up in June or July. Grocery is usually $7 per pound to $11 per pound. We get all types of meat, roasts, steaks, hamburger. We hardly buy meat at grocery.

G'morning from the state of "Confusion"

Great video. I picked up my half beef last week, and it worked out to 5.05 a lb. Can't ask for a better deal! My butcher is also the farmer I think that why it was so "cheap".

We get a full beef once a year. So delicious 😋

I think it would be best to buy our meats from our local farmers, the money stays into their hands and family and it helps them with their expenses to maintain their farms.

True story…. Bought our first 1/4 cow. Hands down the BEST BEEF we have ever had. No contest!! Definitely worth supporting your local farms for meat. It’s clean, no hormones and I can see the cows grazing when I drive buy their farm every single day. So we know the farmers are good stewards of the animals. Best way to get your beef 🥩!!

I've found buying it in the store your better off and tastes better

I love a lot of marbling so would I be able to get prime beef or would it be choice or select? I grew up on a farm so we always had our own meat. I go to a store now but I would love to get it from a farm.

Feeding your hog coal will help you to get them to the weight you want faster and should cost you less to get it to the weight you want.

Is the live weight before or after the steer takes a dump?

Hi Lorella, a Very informative vid and if I ever end up somewhere where I have room for a large freezer, I will do exactly what you suggest. Thank you for sharing. Are you on tik tok by any chance? a certain number of Australian farmers have been very successful on there, I am thinking you would be too if your not doing it already One suggestion for your vids: I find that your vids tend to be a bit on the lacking light side, perhaps get some better lighting or adjust your camera to operate and compensate when in low light conditions.

Go to your local butcher. Get him/her to sign a supply contract for a total amount at an agreed price list over a defined period of time. Money upfront. You will pay less than store prices and receive a better quality product. Solve your problems like a business person. Good luck

Question. If I buy a 1/2 side of beef , what happens to the heart, head, tongue and organs? Am I paying for half a steer/cow and not getting all the parts?

LIGHTING! As in....turn on some lights! You video will look much better!

FYI...................A skirt steak is not a flank steak. It is 2 totally different cuts of meat from 2 locations.