Ordering Bulk Beef

[coolerifyoudid]

One more vote to liking to patty my own burgers. Some days I want a thicker burger, some times I want a couple thin patties that I can cook quick and other days I'll make sliders. It doesn't take long, and I can work the seasoning in better. We'll also make our own patties and freeze them.

My pro tip for the day:

Growing up, whenever we got our hamburger from a locker, they always came in the one pound tubes. I never stopped to think how inefficient those things were to store.

Now when we buy bulk hamburger, we still separate it into one pound freezer baggies, but we smash them flat. They thaw out quicker and you can store a ton more. I feel stupid for not doing this sooner.

 

[JM4CY]

Chuck smoked and shredded are great. I always save some for chili.
I've had really good luck making jerky from bottom rounds.

How do you do the jerky? How time intensive is that? I've dabbled with the idea of trying that but haven't yet.

 

[ISUTex]

The oddity to remember, when buying a beef and having it processed yourself, the most expensive thing you have is hamburger patties, followed by hamburger and then the steaks. Each time the locker has to handle it or do something with it, it costs more.

Also know who you are getting it from well. I bought a beef for my sister once from someone I didn't know very well. The market was on a hot streak looking to drop, they ran a beef in that should have stayed on the lot for another month to get the higher price. My sister hasn't done it since. My wife had a friend that we bought a side from every year, he would run them too long and I was always trimming a good amount of excess fat off the steaks.

When it comes to pork, sadly, it is cheaper to buy from a grocery store. Have a friend who is a large hog independent hog farmer and he said he can't get pork chops for what they cost in the grocer and that is when he figures the pig is no cost. Processing has climbed quite a bit.

We paid $260 to get a whole hog processed this summer (over 300lb pig). I think we paid 80 cents/lb or something like that for the pig itself. Feeding pigs has gotten pricey. Not sure how they are making money off of pigs unless they overcharge the customer.

 

[StormnClone58]

New to this idea … any one care to share ballpark pricing?

 

[CYdTracked]

That's nice of him. Actually, there are a lot of farmers that only charge market price (hanging weight). Just another reason for people to do this. Don't forget about doing the same thing with hogs. We usually do a whole hog and 1/2 or 1/4 beef every year.

Yeah you just have to know the right people but I also know livestock producers that do mark up their beef prices from the live weight price to make more profit off it while also still keeping the overall prices lower than what you would pay for it retail at the store. Nothing wrong with that because it still will likely be a better product than what you get at the store and for a better price too. I just feel fortunate I can get some good quality beef for less than the price of 80/20 hamburger at the store these days.

 

[Brandon]

Is the Story City Locker the best way to go around Ames? I'm a newby if it matters.

In my opinion yes, my other top lockers are milo and arcadia

 

[DSMCy]

New to this idea … any one care to share ballpark pricing?

It's usually around $3.00 per pound for me.
That would be all costs. Paying the farmer and paying the locker.

 

[Cytasticlone]

In my opinion yes, my other top lockers are milo and arcadia

I'm going to give it a shot. I filled out the farmer intro form since I don't know any providers.

 

[StormnClone58]

It's usually around $3.00 per pound for me.
That would be all costs. Paying the farmer and paying the locker.

Whats average lb’s in a 1/4?

 

[CoachHines3]

It's usually around $3.00 per pound for me.
That would be all costs. Paying the farmer and paying the locker.

remember, though.. you aren't getting all that in meat.

you pay for weight (meat + bones + organs, ect). So it's still a little more than what you actually think it is.

in the end it's still a way better deal than going to the store.

 

[CoachHines3]

New to this idea … any one care to share ballpark pricing?

this past june, i believe i paid over $200 for processing at the locker and my 1/4th of the carcass was over $400.

 

[Sparkplug]

Check out the Milo Locker on Facebook. They run specials on 1/4, halves and whole. Their posts break down the carcass weight and what you can expect from each. I have them machine tenderize my rounds steaks and then I slow cook with onions and mushroom soup. Add a vegetable side and dinner is ready.

A quarter runs about $3.20 a pound (animal and processing)

 

[ISUTex]

New to this idea … any one care to share ballpark pricing?

We usually pay anywhere from $4-$5 /lb when it's all said and done. That's taking into account getting rid of waste and bone.


Good lockers around central Iowa that I've either used or heard about.

Milo
Winterset
Sully
Malcom
Leighton
Story City

 

[Stormin]

Farm Raised Beef is best. But generally you are going to get about 60% of the hanging weight in Processed Meat. That 600 lbs of hanging weight will yield about 360 lbs of meat in your freezer. Some of you might be over estimating how much processed meat you are actually getting.

What is hanging weight (and why you should avoid buying beef sold this way)

I’m a farmer who sells beef directly to consumers. And I’m about to tell you something that might make other beef farmers mad at me. You shouldn't buy beef by hanging weight. (Quick definition: hanging weight is the weight of the cow carcass after initial slaughter and processing. It’s the...

www.heartstonefarm.me

 

[Agclone91]

Is the Story City Locker the best way to go around Ames? I'm a newby if it matters.

Story City is an excellent locker, but they are expensive and hard to get into (a product of being in high demand). They charge by how much you’re having processed (1/4, 1/2, or whole) rather than by the pound which is convenient. When we picked up our beef last July they were booked about a year out at that time and the cost penciled around $2 per pound for the processing.

 

[ameslurker]

My wife and I just got 1/4 earlier this Summer. We loaded up on steak and roasts and man its all been good. We figured we could get cheap hamburger at HyVee when they run promotions or something like that. We did end up getting stew meat, but haven't used any of that yet. We've been using the smoker a lot with most of this.

One thing on the cut sheet was if we wanted 'dog treats' so we figured why the hell not? We spoil our dog so went for it. Turned out to be literally just chunks of bone with meat remnants on it. When we gave him one he forgot we existed. He was all in on it, hahaha.

 

[cyfan92]

Whats average lb’s in a 1/4?

200 lbs -
15-17% – Steaks
32-35% – Roasts
45-50% – Ground Beef
10-15% – Other cuts such as brisket and trim products

$3/lb

Elma Locker & Grocery - Meat Processing | Elma IA

We are a State Inspected Facility. We butcher Monday, Wednesday & Friday with inspected butchering on Fridays. Stop in & do your shopping all in one stop.

www.elmalocker.com

Elma Locker & Grocery - Meat Processing | Elma IA

We are a State Inspected Facility. We butcher Monday, Wednesday & Friday with inspected butchering on Fridays. Stop in & do your shopping all in one stop.

www.elmalocker.com

 

[JP4CY]

How do you do the jerky? How time intensive is that? I've dabbled with the idea of trying that but haven't yet.

Let the round still be mostly frozen. I have a $100 Cabellas slicer. Set it for 4 on the dial, cut with the grain.
Throw in gallon ziploc over night with this https://www.smokinggunjerky.com/onl...-Gallon-For-Use-with-20-lbs-of-Meat-p80147714

Then smoke or dehydrate.

 

[JM4CY]

Let the round still be mostly frozen. I have a $100 Cabellas slicer. Set it for 4 on the dial, cut with the grain.
Throw in gallon ziploc over night with this https://www.smokinggunjerky.com/onl...-Gallon-For-Use-with-20-lbs-of-Meat-p80147714

Then smoke or dehydrate.

What in the hell are you doing patronizing a business in Lincoln ******* Nebraska?!?!?!

 

[JP4CY]

What in the hell are you doing patronizing a business in Lincoln ******* Nebraska?!?!?!

LOL. Bought it at Scheels once, now I'm on it!