Our cows are 100% grass-fed and grass-finished. They are moved daily to fresh pasture in a regenerative, multi-species, intensive rotational grazing system. We offer whole, half, and quarter shares ($9.49/lb hanging weight).
Reserve Your Share
We require a $1800 deposit to reserve a whole share or $1200 deposit to reserve a half, and a $500 to reserve a quarter share. The deposit will be applied to the final cost: $9.49/lb hanging weight.
Beef shares are available at limited times throughout the year. When the beef is ready for harvest, we will deliver them directly to the butcher. The beef will hang for approximately 14 days after harvest. During that time, the butcher will call you directly to confirm your choice of cuts (we will provide a document that walks you through this process and should answer most questions; you can refer to that document/cut sheet when you speak to the butcher).
The butcher will also notify you when your meat is ready and you will pick it up directly from them. Turn-around time is usually a week for fresh cuts and about 3-4 weeks for any cuts that need to be cured and/or smoked. Unless you specify otherwise, it will all be frozen when you pick it up, so it can go directly into your freezer.
Our Butcher
We use Keller Meats for all of our large animal harvests. We have always had great experiences with Tom and his crew and they are always accommodating to our sometimes unorthodox requests (chuckle). Their address is 3739 Avon Lake Rd, Litchfield OH 44253. You may also call them at 330-722-4501.
Calculating Total Cost
You will pay us directly for the beef (we will email an invoice with the final balance soon after the beef goes to harvest and we have the actual hanging weight) and you will pay the butcher directly for the processing.
Processing costs include: slaughter fee ($130) + hauling fee ($25) + base rate of approximately $0.95/lb hanging weight, plus any additional fees for curing, smoking, patties, etc. depending on the type of processing you request. (Please note: these fees are determined by the butcher and are subject to change).
For example, for a 1100lb live steer, the hanging weight will come to approximately 600lbs. If you’ve reserved a half share, you’ll pay $2847 to us at Belvedere Farms (of which $1200 will already have been paid as your deposit).
And you’ll pay approximately $450-500 to the butcher in slaughter/processing fees (though depending on the processing/curing you’ve requested, it could be a little more). If you budget $3200-3500 for a half share of beef, you’ll be in good shape.
Calculating Total Yield
The beef is cut however you like. The butcher is very helpful and accommodating and we can work with you to be sure you get exactly what you’d like from your beef share.
Most sides of beef (half share) will average approximately 300lbs hanging weight (the weight after slaughter and before the beef is cut down). This is the weight we use to calculate the final cost. The finished weight you get back will be less than the hanging weight due to reduction of the hide, head, and feet, and any boning being done.
From a 300lb side, you’ll get around 220-250lbs in cuts. You can get even more if you also request the bones, the fat (suet), and the organs & offal (liver, heart, kidney, tongue, tail). We’ve found that this will feed four to six people for about a year (though you may find you eat more beef when you see how great it tastes!).
Everything is a Learning Experience
If you’ve never ordered beef in bulk before, it’s an adventure! You’ll likely get cuts you’ve never seen before and you’ll learn new ways to prepare it to extract the best flavor. And next time, you’ll know a little better which cuts you like best and which you won’t order again (for us, that’s cube steak – it’s tenderized and cut into strips perfect for stir fry or taco meat, but we’ve found we just didn’t use it as much as ground beef or stew meat, so we don’t request it anymore).
Of course, we’re always happy to help and you’re welcome to come visit your beef out in the pasture at any time. Just send us a note and we’ll make it happen!
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