I'm actually fr'ing amazed . . . .

[Kathie in Thorp]

We had one end-June beef for private sale, and three for end-November. Halves, and they deal with the custom cutter. ALL SOLD/ALL SPOKEN FOR in 3 days. Most with previous customers, but a couple new ones. Where's the little face that shows it's whirling?

 

[JSCATTLE]

Good for you kathie !!! Ive had several people call wanting beef but that's not my game . I don't have time to fool with raising them . Seems to be a big market for it ..

 

[Kathie in Thorp]

Good for you kathie !!! Ive had several people call wanting beef but that's not my game . I don't have time to fool with raising them . Seems to be a big market for it ..

I think, for small producers, there is a good market for home-raised beef, JS. Not necessarily "organic." We tell our people the truth: that the critters get preventative vaccinations. No growth hormones, no crap. If we don't birth them on the place, we buy them in our valley at 6 mos. old. We don't go to auctions. They pasture here, and our winter hay comes from our valley, or within 40 miles. We finish for 60 days with alfalfa and grain. None of our customers have asked us to simply grass feed. They come back.

 

[backhoeboogie]

Its the quality Kathie. The consumers can go to the local butcher and get good stuff but they cannot find it at the supermarket or supercenters. No matter what the grade is and no matter what the certification is, it is not as good.

I don't know how many times customers have told me the steaks were the best they have ever had, their whole entire life, including all the high dollar restaurants. I tell them I can't guarantee them to be that good always but I will gladly sell them half a beef from time to time.

Generally I haul several fed out steers to the processor. The processing, size, and cuts are up to the customer and they pay the processor. When I drop the steer there I am done. Since I am hauling one there for myself and feeding out one myself, it is no big deal.

Folks that used to buy half a steer are now asking for a whole steer.

 

[Running Arrow Bill]

We've been selling USDA inspected vacuum packed, frozen grass fed Texas Longhorn beef for the past 3 years, going into our 4th year. Sell at area Farmer's Markets. Last year sold 6 processed animals and processed 3 more this spring. Have had some inquiries for 1/4 or 1/2 animals; however, haven't had inquiries for the rest of the animal: such sales would be to a customer who would buy the animal and we would take to a NON-USDA processor.

For our USDA beef, we have our own label.