Butchered beef here, today.

[Kathie in Thorp]

Beef butchering day today -- 2 done. Was raining early in the morning, but cleared up just at the right time. Unfortunately, still not good weather for our local hay growers. Imagine that doesn't help much with cherry harvest near Wenatchee and Yakima, either.

 

[Jogeephus]

Cherries! Forget the beef and give me the cherries. Last time I was out west it was cherry season and I bought a whole flat of them and sat in my motel room and ate them till I got plum sick. Then I ate them for breakfast. Did I mention I love cherries? They are sooo expensive here. Count your blessings.

 

[Jalopy]

Kathie do you butcher your own or have some oneelse do it?

 

[Kathie in Thorp]

Kathie do you butcher your own or have some oneelse do it?

Jalopy, we have a guy that comes out here, knocks them down, gets them in "hanging on the rail" shape, and then takes them in his refer truck to our cutter.

 

[Kathie in Thorp]

Cherries! Forget the beef and give me the cherries. Last time I was out west it was cherry season and I bought a whole flat of them and sat in my motel room and ate them till I got plum sick. Then I ate them for breakfast. Did I mention I love cherries? They are sooo expensive here. Count your blessings.

Jo, expect high cherry prices! Report on the news last night was considerable cherry damage due to the rains. :( My son-in-law is in the fruit buisness and owns a cherry orchard. Am afraid to call and ask him about conditions.

 

[ohiosteve]

How does he put them down Kathie? Do you run them in a chute or open pasture?

 

[Kathie in Thorp]

How does he put them down Kathie? Do you run them in a chute or open pasture?

We finish out our feeder steers in a large dry lot next to a barn, Steve. He head-shoots them and dresses them out right in the lot (.223 mag., I believe -- only takes one per critter); then hoists them to finish clean-up, quarters them, and in the truck they go. The most likely to be aggitated/spooky is always the first one dispatched.

 

[ohiosteve]

Does he hit them between the eyes Kathie? I've put a couple dairy cows down before shooting them behind the poll but I'm planning a farm kill on a longhorn cow for our freezer and don't think I'll be able to get her that way. Thanks.

 

[Kathie in Thorp]

I try NOT to be out there till they hit the ground -- but, yeah, the bullet holes are between the eyes and not more than an inch above. I don't know if it's something instinctive, or if they can sense some tension in the air or what, but if we've got one that's at all flighty, man, they know something's up as soon as that guy walks towards the barn, and that critter will start looking for the lowest section of the fenceline! Any other day -- people traffic, vehicle traffic, tractors, 4-wheelers, the guys shooting targets -- they're fine. This guy isn't shooting more than 15-20 yards max, so if you're going to have to reach out any distance, Steve, you might want to trust something bigger.

 

[J&D Cattle]

My uncle was a butcher and shot many cows off the farm with nothing more than a 22 mag. Aim right between the eyes and then go up about an inch. That knocks them down in their tracks. Hook them upside down and bleed them. Make sure the other cows are kept pushed back if they are around as the smell of blood makes them go nuts, or at least it did every time I've seen one killed. He did step up to a 270 for the couple buffalo he had to butcher.

 

[Alan]

Our guy has always used a 22 mag, although on the last one he went to a .22 hornet, same result, dropped him were he stood. As far as head shot, as has been said here many times, draw an X in your mind between the ears and eyes ...... X marks the spot.

Here's a post I did in 2009 showing the process that, I think, kathie is describing. Not trying to take over your post, it's still amazing how quick and clean these guys are.

Alan

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=54641&hilit=+Truck

 

[ohiosteve]

Those are some good pictures Alan, I'm sure we won't be as efficient as those guys but I'll try to get some pics when we do the cow in a few weeks, I plan on quartering it then taking to butcher and having the whole thing ground. Hope yours turn out great Kathie!

 

[Kathie in Thorp]

Those are some good pictures Alan, I'm sure we won't be as efficient as those guys but I'll try to get some pics when we do the cow in a few weeks, I plan on quartering it then taking to butcher and having the whole thing ground. Hope yours turn out great Kathie!

Me, too, Steve! Haven't had a customer complaint yet, and would just as soon keep it that way.

And the pics Alan posted -- that's the way it happens here.

 

[Jogeephus]

Throw some range cubes on the ground and then visualize a line between the left eye and the right ear and a line between the right eye and the left ear - place the bullet just to the left of this intesection and it will drop like a rock. I use a .22. As soon as it drops, cut the juglar vein and they will bleed out nicely. Be careful if there are bulls around though. They get upset at the smell of blood.

 

[Kathie in Thorp]

Throw some range cubes on the ground and then visualize a line between the left eye and the right ear and a line between the right eye and the left ear - place the bullet just to the left of this intesection and it will drop like a rock. I use a .22. As soon as it drops, cut the juglar vein and they will bleed out nicely. Be careful if there are bulls around though. They get upset at the smell of blood.

Hopefully, the rear end will be higher than the front end when you cut that vein -- works better that way.

 

[Jogeephus]

Shucks, I'll have most all the blood out of it before you can hook the first chain to the hoof.

 

[Kathie in Thorp]

Shucks, I'll have most all the blood out of it before you can hook the first chain to the hoof.

I'd bet my near bottom dollar you would, Jo! :)

 

[Jogeephus]

The heart will continue to pump for a minute or two so if you open the artery quickly there will be little blood to drain.

How long are you planning on hanging it?

 

[Kathie in Thorp]

The heart will continue to pump for a minute or two so if you open the artery quickly there will be little blood to drain.

How long are you planning on hanging it?

Our cutter (our customers' cutter) usually hangs the quarters 10-14 days -- he has a good eye for deciding when they're "ready."

 

[Jogeephus]

I do about the same. A minimum of at least a day per cwt if the cooler isn't slap full.