Cost Comparison between Buying Beef from the store versus by the side?

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Stihlpro

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 23, 2007
Messages
142
Location
WA
Has anyone come across or done the price comparison between buying beef from the store versus buying an entire half from the butcher/farm?
 

rocknmranch

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Joined
Mar 22, 2009
Messages
151
Location
California
I think that because prices vary so widely from one portion of a state to another, and from one producer to the next, that making a generic comparison just isn't possible.  If you figure roughly 100-120 lbs. of meat  in a 1/4, and that's minimal bone, and price is $450 per 1/4, your getting a darn good deal! Hamburger isn't even that cheap! There really is no comparison!!
 

GoWyo

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Joined
Nov 29, 2008
Messages
1,691
Location
Wyoming
The halves and quarters we have been selling average out to around $3.50 to $3.75/lb. for all cuts and this is completely boneless steaks and roasts and vac packed with ground beef making up about half the meat.  Store is going to be about 1.5x to 2x the price and not as good.
 

LLBUX

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 23, 2010
Messages
697
Location
Chapin, Illinois
Home-raised CAB beef I am selling now averages about $2.50/lb by the quarter or half cut to your specs.   

That is about hamburger price in my local stores.
 

dcbehle

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 4, 2008
Messages
79
Location
Kearney, Nebraska
Our last steer was processed last November. We sell 1/4's to friends based on the boxed beef price the day they are harvested plus 20 cents per pound.

This spring, USDA Choice boxed beef prices have been around $1.75 to $1.80/lb.
Processing at our locker is 55 cents/lb.
Premium we collect 20 cents/lb.

Total cost is $2.50 to $2.55/lb.

Check out the prices at a discount grocer or Walmart. You will pay close to that for lean ground beef. Add in the extra costs for steaks and roasts and the price is very reasonable. However, you can't beat the quality of meat from an animal you know and the local processing! If we had more steers to sell, we would have many more friends buying.
 

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