I know you probably know this, but a beef steer is not 100% Ribeye, New Yorks and Filets. However, there is truly not a cut on the steer our family does not like.  One of the best parts about buying your own 1/4, 1/2 or whole locally raised steer is the variety of cuts you get to try because after all they are all part of the deal.  So don't be intimidated.  Grab your iPad and Google "best short rib recipes" or "how to cook beef shanks" and see what the ranchers have known for years.

Here are some great questions I get asked a lot and here are my best answers:

Q:  How much do I get in weight? 

A:  Our goal each year is to get the live steer to 1300+ lbs.

Each quarter steer will have a hanging weight of about 175 to 220lbs (about 200lb average the past 5 years)

Cut and wrapped, each quarter will be about 100 to 120lbs

You can have this cut and wrapped anyway you like with Tri-Way Meats in Hollister

If you would like any of the offal let me know. This adds to the processing weight/cost, most don’t want it, so we don’t always process this.

Q:  How much does a quarter cost?

A:  The way we are allowed to sell our beef is like this -

You pay for a quarter of the live steer weight, you pay the ranch slaughter, you pay the cut and wrap.  You know when you go to the fine restaurants, and they have that “Market Price” where the actual price should be?  Well, that’s a little how we have to do it here. 

Simple easy answer is about $4.10. lb. + slaughter + cut and wrap.  An example would be:

A 1,300lb. live steer x $4.10lb. = $5,330. You will have to add to that slaughter costs of $250 + cut and wrap costs estimate $1400.  Total estimated for a whole steer cut and wrapped will run you about $7,000.

For a quarter you can estimate about $1,300. for 1/4 of the animal + $400 for slaughter, cut, wrap or total of around $1700

And yes, all of this includes – raising the calf, time on pasture grass at the ranch, my cold early coffee mornings graining them for four+ months and my wine evenings singing to them (they like country music and music from the 80’s the best).

So, this holiday season, eat more beef and less bun…………

NOTE: A 100% Grass fed, grass finished steer will be smaller and run around 1,000 to 1,100 lbs.  We sell this only by the whole animal and a request for a deposit will be due 12 months prior to the animal being ready.

Just fire me up a call or email if you have any questions.  I am always happy to answer questions and guide you through the process.