Beef FAQs

How is grass finished beef different than conventionally raised grain finished beef?

Are your cows happy? (Really, I’ve been asked this question more than once.)

When do you have beef available?

Can I get a quarter/half/whole cut how I want?

Where is your meat processed?

Can I have beef processed where I want?

If I order a quarter, how much meat will I get?

If I decide to order a quarter/half/whole, what will it cost me?

How much freezer space will I need?

How long can I leave beef in the freezer?

Will you deliver a quarter?

Can I get a cut that’s not listed on your price page?

Is it cheaper to buy a quarter?

How do I place an order?

How is grass finished beef different than conventionally raised grain finished beef?

Grass-finished beef is different in several ways from how it’s raised to how it tastes. For a very thorough comparison, check out Eatwild.

Also, we’ve been told by several of our customers that our hamburger doesn’t smell when it’s browned like hamburger they’ve bought at the grocery store.

Are your cows happy? (Really, I’ve been asked this question more than once.)

First of all, we don’t usually process cows (mature females that have had at least one calf) for beef. Usually, it’s steers and heifers. And as a city girl, I had to learn the difference between cows, heifers, steers, and bulls before Kurt would make me a farm wife. As to the happy part, our cattle spend their lives on pasture and crop residue doing what God intended – grazing.

When do you have beef available?

We have beef available on the farm year round. For a complete listing of what we have and our prices, check out the beef section of our store. Bulk beef (quarters, halves, and wholes) are available when we can finish them on green growing grass - generally April to October. Contact us to reserve bulk beef.

Can I get a quarter/half/whole cut how I want?

Yes. We sell split quarters, as opposed to front or hind quarters. Once you have reserved your quarter, half or whole, we will give our processor your contact information. They will contact you directly to get your cutting instructions. You can decide how you want your steaks cut, how you want your hamburger packaged, and a variety of other options.

Where is your meat processed?

Currently, we use Krehbiels , in McPherson. They are a federally inspected plant we have used exclusively for several years. We have been pleased with the finished product and their customer service can't be beat.

Can I have beef processed where I want?

If you are purchasing a whole beef and the distance isn’t too great, we would be willing to bring an animal to a processor of your choice.

If I order a quarter, how much meat will I get?

The weights of the animals we take to the processor varies some from animal to animal. My rule of thumb is that a quarter beef will be about 100# of carry out meat depending on the cuts you get and the size of the animal.

If I decide to order a quarter/half/whole, what will it cost me?

There are three components to the cost of a quarter, half or whole:

*the cost of the animal,

*the cost of the processing and

*the freight to get the animal to the processor.

Our current price on beef is $3.15/pound hanging weight. We will use the hanging weight provided by the processor. Please note that the hanging weight is NOT the number of pounds you will put in the freezer.

The processing costs average about $125/quarter depending on your cutting instructions and the size of the animal.

Freight is $100 per animal or $25/quarter.

Here is an example of estimated costs for a 700 pound carcass. All weights and prices are approximate and for example purposes only.

A quarter (175# hanging weight):
175 x $3.15/# + $125 est. processing + $25 freight = $701.25

A half (350# hanging weight):
350 x $3.15/# + $250 est. processing + $50 freight = $1402.50

A whole (700# hanging weight):
700 x $3.15/# + $500 est processing + $100 freight = $2805

How much freezer space will I need?

One cubic foot of space will hold approximately 30 pounds of meat. A quarter will require about 3 cubic feet of space; a half, 6 cubic feet; a whole, 12 cubic feet. I tell people that a quarter will fit in a "normal" refrigerator freezer without much room to spare.

How long can I leave beef in the freezer?

Everything I’ve read recommends that beef be eaten within a year of processing. It doesn’t go bad after that long in the freezer but the nutrition can deteriorate a bit. We do have everything vacuum packed to help couteract this. My recommendation is to not order more than your family can eat in a year. However, we have found a package or two that got buried and it was still great!

Will you deliver a quarter?

You're always welcome to pick up your own beef at the processor. However, we will work hard to get your bulk beef purchases to you in a timely manner. We also work hard to coordinate our trips to save on time and fuel so you may have to wait a week or two on us.

Can I get a cut that’s not listed on your price page?

It depends on how much notice we are given. We're happy to accommodate you if we can. Usually, we process from late spring through late summer/fall and we can get special cuts then.

Is it cheaper to buy a quarter?

It depends. If all you want is ground beef, it’s cheaper to just buy ground beef. If you enjoy roasts and steaks, then a quarter is the way to go – it works out to about $7/pound. Also, purchasing a quarter (half or whole) is pretty darn convenient. No more trying to shop for beef for the week – just pull the cut you want out of the freezer. Also, with a quarter, you get to decide how you want your meat cut.

How do I place an order?

If you're looking to purchase beef by the cut, check out our online ordering option or contact us .

If you're interested in bulk purchase, give us a call or email us. If you'd like more information about the bulk purchase process, check out our bulk purchase page.

Let's stay in touch!