Nothin like home raised BEEF!

...if you are a vegetarian...this post is NOT for you.

This is what half a cow looks like all packaged up...There is nothing like raising your own beef and knowing exactly where it came from and exactly what hormones and antibiotics are not fed to it...it is the best meat you can eat (in our opinion) and is better aged than the meat at your local supermarket...and we think it tastes a whole heck of a lot better.

We have everything in there from filets, every kind of steak, to every kind of roast, and pounds upon pounds of ground beef...In my opinion, this is the ONLY way to eat beef...right off the farm!  If this is intriguing to you...most local butchers/processing businesses offer the opportunity to purchase a side of beef (half) a whole cow or even a quarter...or get in touch with a local cattle farmer...who will most likely have the inside on an animal to purchase...we usually quarter out a cow and split it with family...and at the processor...you can specify how you would like your meat packaged.

For our family of four...this is enough meat to last us a year (side of beef)!  We travel about an hour to a processor we like...every place packages their meat differently...and we just happen to really like Miller Meat Processing Co. in Georgetown...This is obviously not for everyone...we love it because we know everything about the meat we are eating!  And it sure is nice to breeze past the meat department when grocery shopping!!

Here is a little more info I found for those interested!

The advantages of buying in bulk include:

• Superior quality meat — Grocery-store meat is aged 5-7 days. Meat purchased from a local source is generally aged 14-21 days. (Note that not everyone prefers the taste of aged meat.)
• Uniformity of product — Commercial ground beef is often produced using meat from dozens of animals. When you buy a side, the ground beef is produced from a single animal, which minimizes the risk of contamination.
• Support of local business — I like the fact that buying beef from a local rancher allows me to support him, and to support the meat packer that processes the animal.
• Constant costing — Because you’re buying your meat all at once, it’s easy to budget your costs for an extended period.
• Fewer trips to the grocery store — Plus you no longer have to plan your meals around what’s on sale.
• Meat is packed for freezing — If you buy large quantities at the grocery store, you need to repack the meat to freeze it. When purchase a side of beef, this is done for you.
• Excellent pricing — Buying a side of beef can save you money over regular grocery store prices. However, it is possible to save more at the grocery store by watching for sales.

The advantages of buying beef at the supermarket are:

• Less storage space required — When you buy your meat in small quantities, as you need it, you don’t need a spare freezer.
• You can obtain the best possible pricing — If you stock up on your favorite cuts during sales, you can obtain the best possible pricing.
• You can pick your cuts of meat — If you only use certain cuts of meat, a grocery store is your best option because you can select the cuts you like. When you buy in bulk, you receive a variety of cuts, some of which you may not use.
• Smaller investment — Purchasing even a quarter of an animal costs about $300. You can go to the grocery store and pick up a pound of hamburger for $2.50 on special.
• Less work — To buy meat at your grocery store, you simply select it from the refrigerator case. To buy a side of beef, you need to find a source, perhaps find other beef-lovers to split the cost, transport the meat, and find storage space.

Buying beef in bulk can be an excellent deal, but not for everyone. Buying a side of beef is a good choice if you like to cook, you eat a lot of meat, you have storage space, and quality is important to you.

                                                                                                                   -by J.D. Roth-