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Side of beef: Are you getting a good deal?

Posted Dec 09 2008, 12:30 PM by Karen Datko
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We have a chest freezer in the basement (it came with the house when we bought it) and we try to use it in a cost-friendly way. So we're buying half a yearling heifer from a rancher.

But are we really getting a great deal, or is store-bought beef cheaper?

Mark Sisson says getting together with friends to buy a whole or side of beef is now known as "cowpooling." He says it makes sense if you really love beef (ours is grass-fed), have a place to store it, and like to buy locally. But how about the cost?

In a post at Mark Sisson's Daily Apple, he adds that "sometimes it is more expensive to cowpool than it is to purchase meat from your supermarket, especially if you're a whiz at clipping coupons and shopping the sale section."

Our partner blogger J.D. Roth broke down the arguments for and against buying a side of beef at Get Rich Slowly a couple years ago. In 2006, J.D. paid $3.61 a pound for his beef, including cutting and packaging, and compared that with prices at two local stores. "In this case, shopping at the supermarket would be more expensive, but not by much," he wrote. "If you watch for sales, supermarket beef will cost even less."

Want more information? Check out this .pdf file from the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, and Jason Krause's post at Chow.

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Comments

 

Cheaper in the store, perhaps, but less delicious.  Eating beef you know something about is more personal, and better for you, psychologically and physiologically.

I grew up rurally and we used to have a friend that named his cows numbers in Spanish and referred to the meat by name.  You'd go over for a BBQ and he'd say "That's an Uno steak.  Quatro ribs should be ready in an hour!"

http://blog.justthrive.com

matt @ Thrive (Posted 12.09.08 1:11 PM ) Report Abuse

I agree with Matt. I would much rather pay for beef at a local farm that I am familiar with and can check up on their animal handling practices and their standards when it comes to feed. Supporting local farms not only is better for my health, it helps out my community and allows small businesses to thrive.

naturaltwenties.blogspot.com

Naturally Frugal (Posted 12.09.08 1:41 PM ) Report Abuse

Here's another question:  It takes electricity to run that chest freezer.  What does that do to your real savings?

Buzz (Posted 12.09.08 1:49 PM ) Report Abuse

You really need to compare like to like, so if you are getting grass fed beef you need to compare it to the supermarket cost of grass fed beef.  Not only is grass fed beef better for the community, economy and environment, but it is a completely different food when you compare nutritional values.  Grass fed beef is low in cholesterol and higher in Omega 3's, minerals and vitamins.  I assume that it is also free of antibiotics and hormones.  So your $3.61 per pound needs to be compared to the $5-12 per pound for grass fed supermarket beef.

capella (Posted 12.09.08 2:02 PM ) Report Abuse

Much supermarket beef comes from out-of-country, places like Brazil where rainforests are being wiped out to make cattle ranches. In addition, we can't oversee production in other countries like we do here; who knows what they feed their cattle or inject into them? Our inspections are SECOND TO NONE in the U.S. Out of 100,000,000 cows in this country, our inspectors found the THREE that had BSE (which, by the way, all came from Canada). Look for COOL (Country Of Origin Labeling) coming soon to a supermarket near you! (Now that COOL has become law). EAT AMERICAN BEEF!! The safest, most responsible, and best-tasting meat in the world!

MONTANA: The Home of HAPPY COWS!

MT Cowboy (Posted 12.09.08 2:38 PM ) Report Abuse

Remember that the $3.61 a pound is not buying just great steaks and roasts; there are a lot of "cheap" cuts that you are paying $3.61/# for as well.  The taste and tenderness are going to depend a lot on the amount of marbleing that is in the beef.  You may want your beef to be more lean.  Point is: you can't buy just on the price.  There may be other considerations.  Another thought....check out your local high school FFA or Ag department.  Sometimes they have their annual auction where you can buy one of the steers that didn't go for top dollar.  If you have a feed store in your area, they will know who to contact.  When a young person has not been winning at the shows, they will be happy to have a buyer ahead of time for a set amount.  That beef is great!

Coastalred2000 (Posted 12.09.08 2:56 PM ) Report Abuse

My FIL raises all of our beef.  If we had to buy it from him it would cost us around 2 bucks a pound hanging weight. And that is what he sells his other cows for through advertisements in the local Thrifty Nickel.  For organic beef that's a steal.  It really does taste different as well.  I have to say that buying a side of beef is way better than purchasing it at the store especially if what you're getting is exceptionally lean (which is very costly at the store) and is organic (add even more to the cost).  Besides if you already have a chest freezer to store good deals you pick up at the grocery store, then why would you factor in the cost when considering the purchase of local beef.    Honestly,  if we don't get any more meat from FIL I will definitely miss it because it does taste better.

Wendy (Posted 12.09.08 3:01 PM ) Report Abuse

I buy beef from my friend in Wyoming.  Last time, it was $2.20/lb, delivered to my home and cut to my specifications.  Delicious beef.  This is corn feed beef.  Grass fed was like only a bit more per pound.  I can drive to his house, check out the cows, feed them myself if needed.

Keith in Colorado (Posted 12.09.08 3:08 PM ) Report Abuse

From Canada EH!  Better check your facts - they came to Canada from Montana and were subsequently shipped back to the US.

PMCOLO (Posted 12.09.08 3:22 PM ) Report Abuse

I guess it is just a matter of preference. I don't mind frozen hamburger, but any frozen  steak is simply less delicious than the junkiest fresh supermarket cut. I guess I am doomed.

I am wondering where to buy a good pork, though.

elena (Posted 12.09.08 3:33 PM ) Report Abuse

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