Any experience buying 1/4 cow?

**roxygirl** · 08-28-2010, 10:29 PM

Dh and I were considering buying 1/4 cow and stocking up the beef in our deep freeze. Is this really one of the best ways to get quality beef at a cheap price? Anyone willing to share their experience with this? I know where to find ranchers advertising this in our area, but how do you know you are using a good source?

**zakity** · 08-28-2010, 11:25 PM

We bought a third of a cow last year (bought a whole cow, but split it between three friends). This year, we got the whole cow by ourselves. We bought it from a place in Eastern Oregon that does grass fed and only the shots required bly law.

One of the things that I did was to inventory it as we were putting it in the freezer. Then, I took the inventory and did a meal plan so that we aren't stuck with all hamburger at the end.

**roxygirl** · 08-29-2010, 09:52 AM

Thanks! I was wondering what kind of cuts we should get. We use ground beef more than anything, but of course some steaks would be nice as well.

**Russ** · 08-29-2010, 09:57 AM

It depends on which 1/4 you are getting.

Hind 1/4 = mostly steaks
Front 1/4 mostly roast.

Of course you can put any cut of meat into hamburger.

**happymomof4** · 08-29-2010, 10:14 AM

We have a friend raise a cow for us every year. It is grass fed/free range. We get 1/2 and another friend gets the other 1/2. I call the butcher myself and order what I want. The other guy gets what he wants. The price with cost of the calf, raising the calf and butchering fees cost us $1.28lb. We have been doing this for years. I get to pick the if I want 1lb 1 1/2 or 2 lb packs of hamburger, etc. The butcher we use also will make up hamburger patties. I like making my own. You have a lot of chooses when you order it yourself.

I make a list of what we get when we put it in the deep freezer. I keep track of what I use. I usually use my ground beef up first. I usually have roast left at the end. I cupt them up and use them as steaks.

The best think is when they have beef recalls you know your stuff is safe.

**nessarowdy** · 08-29-2010, 10:40 AM

I say go for it! The quality is so much better when you know where it's coming from! No preservatives, no colorings, just good ol' fashioned non-medicated meat! DH and I have done this for years. And it is SO much cheaper.

I am waiting for 1/2 a beef that I'm going in with my parents this fall. I am so excited! It usually works out to around $1.50 to $1.75 a pound for us, and that's for all cuts regardless.

Good luck in your search, I think it's a great idea!

-Vanessa

**Contrary Housewife** · 08-29-2010, 11:09 AM

All I can add is that if you are going half and half with someone else, work out what each of you expects to get in the beginning. I had some friends who did this once and "the other guy" took all the good steaks.

Also, some places if they offer packages can be flexible about what you get, will grind more for you or cut things differently. Some places will not. You get what is on the list, period.

**druthb00** · 08-29-2010, 01:43 PM

My parents (and their boss) had a bad experience last year buying 1/4 cow and splitting it. The steaks were just terrible. The person/farmer they got it from wasn't "a friend of a friend" or someone they knew, but he was a reputable farmer in the area. So I don't know what went wrong exactly...

On the other hand, I remember when I was about 12 or so, my parents bought 1/2 a pig. That was the BEST bacon I've ever had. Going back to store bought bacon was NOT pleasant lol.

**Iansmommy** · 08-29-2010, 07:20 PM

We're getting a whole pasture-fed organic beef next month. We are splitting it with my parents. I've bought beef in the past and have also raised beef for ourselves when I was younger. That was a bit harder as I got attached to the cow and raised it from a calf.

I like buying it and being able to select cuts, how many to a package and also how lean your hamburger is. I also like that the pasture-fed beef is better for you, lower in cholesterol, fat and calories. It also higher in certain vitamins. You'll probably pay a bit more for it though.

**mndtrp** · 08-29-2010, 09:45 PM

I've been doing this for years. Quality beef, cheap price.

If you split, it's easy. One package of sirloins to one person, one to the other. One package of ground beef to one person, one to the other. So on, until you have everything evenly split. If there are odd numbers of something, work out an agreement at that point. Pretty simple.