Side of beef..

**momof42003** · 02-09-2007, 12:09 PM

Last night my DH mentitoned that someone at work was wondering if he would want to go in half on a half a beef.. And he said YES!! I have been wondering about how or when to get meat in this way, and now DH has done it for me.. So that means I get to get my freezer too... YAY!! I have been needing a freezer for many years, and with four kids, I go through food a lot. Now I can start buying stuff in bulk to put in the freezer. I am soooo excited.. The only ouch is that the beef will be somethng around 300.00 for our share and the price of a nice freezer (I am planning this one to last an extemely long time...). Just thought I would share in my "moment".

**Nemeweh** · 02-09-2007, 12:18 PM

I just found a place where I can buy a side, myself. I'm on a waiting list though.

I'm excited for you! I know my side will end up costing me only $1.57 per LB, and that just makes me soooooo happy haha!

Let me know what size freezer you end up buying, as I only have little one and want to know what I should get. thanks

**Darlene** · 02-09-2007, 12:47 PM

Good for you! I've always wanted to go in on a pig with someone, lol.

**annymoll** · 02-09-2007, 02:28 PM

We always buy a full beef and hog! You will never want to purchase from the store again ! And yes, we pay about the same for Porterhouse,T-Bone, Rib Steak etc. that we would pay for hamburger. We are looking into farm raised poultry as well.Plus we have farm fresh eggs, although they have been harder to get with all this cold weather. The hens aren't laying.

**miss_thrifty** · 02-09-2007, 03:13 PM

we use to get 1/4 of a beef. If your buying a large deep freezer thats great. A 1/2 beef is alot of meat. U go girl. Fill it up.

**annymoll** · 02-09-2007, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by annymoll

We always buy a full beef and hog! You will never want to purchase from the store again ! And yes, we pay about the same for Porterhouse,T-Bone, Rib Steak etc. that we would pay for hamburger. We are looking into farm raised poultry as well.Plus we have farm fresh eggs, although they have been harder to get with all this cold weather. The hens aren't laying.

I forgot to mention for 1/2 beef we needed a large chest type freezer. Any more and you will most likely need another freezer.

**littlemotherhaywood** · 02-09-2007, 05:31 PM

We've been greatly cutting back on our meat consumption lately mostly because of how animals in slaughterhouses are treated. I've been contemplating looking around here for somewhere we could get meat that has been farm raised, able to graze, cruelty free. I think buying by the side is a great idea myself. I love my chest freezer

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 02-10-2007, 08:57 AM

Just a few hints:

Big Number One a good black marker! Make sure and mark all the packages before you sink them into the freezer. We set up an assemblyline when we bring home our motherload. DH unwraps,cuts and breaks down the bundles.
I rewrap in our family portions sizes and mark. DD writes down a list of what we are putting into the freezer and how its packaged. Makes keeping track much easier.
Now this may seem like an odd thing to say but I've seen it happen. Watch your sharing. Many folks feel like they have gotten so much that they can give it away. It starts out small a couple of pounds of ground beef to sis to get her by, a roast to mom for Sunday dinner, etc. Next thing you know the freezer is emtpy and your wondering where it all went to. The voice of expernice.
Third keep track of how much leftovers you have from each meal and make a note for your next bundle. WRITE it down when you make the meal and post it on your bullentin board near your freezer. That way you'll have a good map for adjusting the next load. Don't count on remembering you won't.
Speaking of maps make on up for your freezer and use it. It will save you time when your looking for something. I keep mine on a bullentin board over my freezer its just a piece of paper with a rectangle drawn on it and notes made under the rectangle. Simple but effective.
Next enjoy your bounty!
For those looking for fresh meats try calling your local family owned slaughter house. You'll be surprised the infor they can share with you. Look under meat processors in the phone book, call your local feed supply, call your local ag agent all can help hook you up with someone.
Laurie in Bradenton

**banana** · 02-10-2007, 09:02 AM

Wow I've never done that, sounds great!

**mcphlips** · 02-10-2007, 12:32 PM

This is a great thing to look into if you can find someone to go in with! Especially if you know how the cow was raised. We have done this for several years with our neighbor who raises the cow. It is a godsend and the beef is fantastic.... I can taste the difference so much so that I will rarely order beef at a restaurant because I know how good it could be! Congrats!
We have a large upright freezer that holds our 1/2.. plus we use a small chest freezer for other things.
Enjoy!!

**AmyMCGS** · 02-10-2007, 01:00 PM

We've done this before and it was great... the meat was SO much better than what you buy at the grocery store!

Ours came wrapped in individual 1-3lb portions and marked as to what it was. It was great- we just had to organize it all in the freezer.

Enjoy!!

**momof42003** · 02-10-2007, 02:11 PM

Thanks for all the advise.. I do believe that this cow is farm raised, and is not misteated... I am so glad that DH has decided to do this for us.

**Dexter** · 02-10-2007, 10:52 PM

We slaughter a steer a year. LOL Our meat guy packages it exactly the way we want it. It's great.

**nwmissourigal** · 02-10-2007, 10:59 PM

This is really great. I still buy meat from a locker in my home town. I like the fresh meat and the reason I go to my home town is that I know the farmers that sell to the locker and I know how they raise beef and pigs and chickens. It is much cheaper to go to a locker to get your meat. When I figure everything up, I average about 1.39 a pound. And that's pretty good considering the price of meat in the stores and you don't know where it comes from. So you got a good deal. It will save you money in the long run and you get a freezer..WOO HOO...Blessings..Kathy