cypressfarms
Well-known member
I have been supplying two local nursing homes with beef for a few years now. I also sell calves to individual people as well, normally through word of mouth. I usually make more net profit (at least $100 - but usually more) per calf doing this. Any surplus calves go to the stockyard.
This morning I got a call from a woman who asked a ton of questions about what I do (She had heard about me from a mutual friend). Seems she had read that "grass fed" beef is better for her family years back, and insists on it. I was in a good mood and invited her over. She came out and I showed her what I did (the horse ride for her kids helped ) So I asked her to define "grass fed" or me. She said that any animal that grazes on natural grasses or feed is grass fed; in addition no growth hormones or antibiotics can be used. I asked her how much she normally paid for "grass fed" and my jaw dropped. She's been driving over an hour to get "grass fed" beef for the last 5 years or so. (This woman knows NOTHING about raising cattle themselves, but she's definitely done her homework on grass fed. It dawned on me that all of my calves are grass fed by her definition. We quickly made a deal for a calf, then I started thinking (always dangerous), many of us have grass fed calves! We could get in on this premium. If we do have a sick calf requiring antibiotic treatment, then said calf would go to the stockyard. Only calves without health issues would be kept as grass fed. I've since found that normal vaccines and wormers do NOT disqualify a calf from being "grass fed".
I keep detailed records just like everyone else (I assume) on each cow and calf; so it's easy for me to thumb through my notebook and see which calf, if any, needed antibiotics or was sick - I don't use growth implants. So within a couple of hours, my whole herd was transformed into "grass fed". Very strange indeed. Within an hour of her visit a locally owned market called me about my grass fed calves thanks to this woman. They have their own butchering facilities, and are looking for "grass fed" beef to market in their store for a premium.
So, today I've learned several lessons. First, and most important, is that the woman of the family makes the food buying decisions. Also, this woman is very well educated and takes her job very seriously - so much so that she reads up on the details of each type of food she purchases. This woman had detailed questions and wanted to see my pasture. She is also willing to pay much more for beef she considers superior to normal grocery store beef. She pays right at 40% MORE than I normally charge for freezer calves. So I guess I've been losing money......
I did call the owner of the nursing homes and told him that the beef was considered grass fed. He said it doesn't matter to him, his residents can tell when he buys from me compared to the normal beef supplier (a large contracting company). His residents can tell the difference in the hamburgers made from me versus the contractor... free advertizing!
Anyone have this experience??? I'm almost at a loss for words, which is rare for me!
This morning I got a call from a woman who asked a ton of questions about what I do (She had heard about me from a mutual friend). Seems she had read that "grass fed" beef is better for her family years back, and insists on it. I was in a good mood and invited her over. She came out and I showed her what I did (the horse ride for her kids helped ) So I asked her to define "grass fed" or me. She said that any animal that grazes on natural grasses or feed is grass fed; in addition no growth hormones or antibiotics can be used. I asked her how much she normally paid for "grass fed" and my jaw dropped. She's been driving over an hour to get "grass fed" beef for the last 5 years or so. (This woman knows NOTHING about raising cattle themselves, but she's definitely done her homework on grass fed. It dawned on me that all of my calves are grass fed by her definition. We quickly made a deal for a calf, then I started thinking (always dangerous), many of us have grass fed calves! We could get in on this premium. If we do have a sick calf requiring antibiotic treatment, then said calf would go to the stockyard. Only calves without health issues would be kept as grass fed. I've since found that normal vaccines and wormers do NOT disqualify a calf from being "grass fed".
I keep detailed records just like everyone else (I assume) on each cow and calf; so it's easy for me to thumb through my notebook and see which calf, if any, needed antibiotics or was sick - I don't use growth implants. So within a couple of hours, my whole herd was transformed into "grass fed". Very strange indeed. Within an hour of her visit a locally owned market called me about my grass fed calves thanks to this woman. They have their own butchering facilities, and are looking for "grass fed" beef to market in their store for a premium.
So, today I've learned several lessons. First, and most important, is that the woman of the family makes the food buying decisions. Also, this woman is very well educated and takes her job very seriously - so much so that she reads up on the details of each type of food she purchases. This woman had detailed questions and wanted to see my pasture. She is also willing to pay much more for beef she considers superior to normal grocery store beef. She pays right at 40% MORE than I normally charge for freezer calves. So I guess I've been losing money......
I did call the owner of the nursing homes and told him that the beef was considered grass fed. He said it doesn't matter to him, his residents can tell when he buys from me compared to the normal beef supplier (a large contracting company). His residents can tell the difference in the hamburgers made from me versus the contractor... free advertizing!
Anyone have this experience??? I'm almost at a loss for words, which is rare for me!