Do you butcher meat or buy it at the grocery store?

[melodyjg]

We have gotten a side of beef about every yr. We use it and chicken more than anything else and with processing it runs us about 500.00 for approx 350 lbs. I couldnt touch beef locally in stores for that cost so its just a smart spend for us every year. Not to mention.. When I have had to buy any beef from the grocery.. the quality is just not as good.

Wow I want to know where you live! We purchased a side about 6 months ago and the total was over $800. And it wasn't a large side either!

we usually purchase a side of beef about every 2 years, my husband has gotten elk, moose, deer and antelope over the years hunting. And I prefer moose over any of the other meat! Elk would be a close second but moose is fabulous and so lean!

[JrandMdB]

We live in Southern Indiana.. we are very lucky that we know where to get the beef from and the butchering costs are pretty low as well. If I was paying more than $2 a lb I likely wouldnt bother.. wouldnt make sense money wise.

I have never had Elk or Moose.. sounds like they would be good tho!

Wow I want to know where you live! We purchased a side about 6 months ago and the total was over $800. And it wasn't a large side either!

we usually purchase a side of beef about every 2 years, my husband has gotten elk, moose, deer and antelope over the years hunting. And I prefer moose over any of the other meat! Elk would be a close second but moose is fabulous and so lean!

[mystry72]

My dad is a farmer so I also know where my beef comes from. I usually get meat from him once a year, around Christmas. (our christmas present) But when it comes to other meats, I'm stuck in the grocery store.

[Queenkim98]

I'm in south central PA. The last time I checked into it buying half a cow or quarter of a cow, it ended up being like $4 a pound.Ummm.....sratch that, I just checked again and its way more than that. For that price, I'd rather just get the meat at Costco.


Kim

[angeleyeza]

i just odered 1/2 a cow from my mom she gives us kids a little bit of a lower rate than there usual buyers. around in our area butchers want between $1.89- $2+ a lb hanging weight. where as my parents charge us kids $1.55/lbso for $400 i got a 1/2 cow here. the butchering will cost us about $180-$200

im just happy my mom and dad agreed we could pay them in payments. how many butchers do u know that allow payments?

[PopCulture]

Definitely buy it at the store. Quick and easy.

[jessiesaves]

Growing up we ate venison a lot, being a hunting family. Its been a bit more of a struggle to get my dh to eat it, he's a city boy. Once I stopped telling so much about whats for dinner, he ate it without knowing. Marinade goes a long way to mask flavors! (Italian dressing is his favorite venison marinade)

[foodie]

Since we have our own livestock (having a 100 acre farm), we transport our livestock animals to our local USDA processing plant in VA. We have grass fed beef, heirloom pork/hogs, and free range poultry (chicken and turkeys).

Our cattle is a breed called Dexter cattle which is a dual purpose breed great for milk and beef production. We are looking into having our meat products produced to sell at our local farm markets this Spring/Summer 2011.

For those of you trying to decide if a local meat market and/or butcher is better in pricing or grocery stores, I vote for butcher shops. Most of the time you can receive meat packages at a great discount.

Have fun--

Foodie

[CSchunk]

I have been stocking up when 80/20 is under $2 per pound, last stock up price was 1.66/lb. We generally buy the grass fed steaks for 2.99/lb. I have looked at bulk pricing but you get so much of the meat I just don't like... t-bones and stuff. I was really trying to find a place to find a whole buffalo but they charge just as much as the grocery store... so no buffalo for me : (