Fresh beef supplier?
 

Can anyone recommend a butcher or farmer in Minnesota that sells by the 1/4?

I'm interested in Organic. I usually go through a butcher in the twin cities but their bulk prices are pretty high because most of them cater to smaller orders.

Beef, chicken, turkey, and pork are all on my list.

Re: Fresh beef supplier?
 

try

www.eatwild.com

They are basically a marketing association that links to local farmers/graziers all over the country.

Re: Fresh beef supplier?
 

PM me I have a supplier in WI just over the border and am ordering another 1/2 shortly. Great beef with some real flavor.....not that hormone pumped up plastic tasting crap at the grocery stores.

BP

Re: Fresh beef supplier?
 

Thanks for that link.
Great resource.......

..

Re: Fresh beef supplier?
 

It figures that Eat-Beef would have a suggestion.:D

Great website. I've found a few places on there already for various goods.

Bushpilot. I sent you a PM.

Thanks guys.

One more question. It would seem to me the best time to buy beef would be in the fall after a long summer of grazing. Does it make a difference to buy in the early spring (which is what I find myself doing most frequently)?

Re: Fresh beef supplier?
 

It depends on your climate and forages, but...

Late spring/early summer is usually best, as the best forage usually grows in spring. Some of the better graziers in more temperate climates can grow forage of high enough quality to finish almost year round.

The important thing is that the cattle are on a very high quality diet and having a good weight gain for the last 3-6 months before slaughter.

My beef finishes the best in May-June, and I usually try to get my customers to buy then or in Oct/Nov. I personally take my calves in the fall to avoid losing a calf in the freezer in the summer should we lose power do to a hurricane.

Re: Fresh beef supplier?
 

I didn't think posting this question here was going to be worhtwhile. I was wrong. I'm amazed by the combined knowledge of this site's members.

Thanks again!

Re: Fresh beef supplier?
 

One thing I didn't say, you should ask the grower. He'll know when his (or her:wink:) grass is best, and when his beef has the best finish, and any other concern particular to your area.

If you ever get near Houston, shoot me a PM.:D

Re: Fresh beef supplier?
 

Thanks Beef. I've got a friend who moved to Houston 4 years ago that I have yet to visit. Some day I'll make it down there.

Re: Fresh beef supplier?
 

We buy grass fed beef that is not technically organic, but gets no hormones, poisons, etc, and is very clean. Our rancher we buy from is serious enough about producing clean meat to satisfy me and then some, though not technically 'organic'. I'm not sure what all hoops he would have to jump through to be certified organic, but I just wanted to plug clean grass fed beef.

My wife loves liver and till we started getting our beef from him I really hated to think what had accumulated in grocery store liver.

Re: Fresh beef supplier?
 

That Black Angus/Belted Galloway cross steer (center) is my next candidate for the freezer. 30 months old now, and at his prime......probably 1300lbs on the hoof. The yearling to the left with the white belt is the next one, the new steer calf standing in front of momma is the one after that.....

http://www.digistash.com/data/026a39...1_p121845.jpeg

Re: Fresh beef supplier?
 

Do you raise those Andy?

I worked on a dairy farm when I was a kid and my wife and I have talked about raising a few if we can get out of the city. How's the cost these days?

Re: Fresh beef supplier?
 

Now you've dated yourself, well that and the avatar. I used to work on a dairy also, my mothers family were dairy men. Most kids now work in fast food or retail of some sort.

There's atleast 6 suppliers on eatwild.com within a 60 mile radius of me ,two are really close.....I've had beef from one it was quite good but to damned expensive, more power to him I say, it saved the family farm/ranch.

Re: Fresh beef supplier?
 

Cattle prices are all fouled up right now.

Calf prices have fallen hard (due mainly to the run in corn), but stocker cow prices, although they've fallen some, are still pretty high. I need some replacement cows, but there is no way a 1000frn cow will pay for herself raising 500frn calves. At least not when it costs nearly 200frns per year to keep her.

However, if you have the land, it's not all that expensive to buy a couple of cows (and a bull!:D) as a part of your preps, although you're better off with laying hens, pigs, and/or sheep/goats than cattle on a frn/input to meat basis.

But, other than eggs, who wants to eat any of that stuff?:puke:

Re: Fresh beef supplier?
 

Yes, these are mine....plus a few more that didn't get in the picture. That calf was born about two weeks ago to the solid black cow right behind him.....had to help her with the delivery, and give the calf mouth-to-nose to get him "jump started", or I don't think he would have made it....it was her first calf and she had a heck of a time with it.....but they're doing fine now.....

Re: Fresh beef supplier?
 

Andy, I think you forgot to call out to the mother, "Push! Breathe, breathe... now, PUSH!" :D

Was she at least implementing Lamaze breathing? Was the bull there to videotape it all? :bear_w00t:

Re: Fresh beef supplier?
 

Angus is such good tasting beef. I read in blind taste tests Jersey is as good but it has yellowish fat, and besides, they are not a meaty breed. But if on small acreage you kept a milk cow, jersey calves would be good tasting beef.

Hens is as far up the food chain as our 2 lots permit, and we only want them for their eggs. They get to be pets fast and offer plenty of protein without dying to feed us.

If we get more land I'm attracted to the Brown Swiss. They were bred as tri purpose: milk and cream, beef, and draft work. Also they were bred to give good levels of milk and cream on grass only. Jerseys are from much richer pastures and need better feed, but they do give by far the richest milk.