Curious about Grass Fed Beef?
Questions we are asked
How are your cows treated?
Psalm 50:10
For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.
Since we treat Scripture seriously in this house, we take that verse to heart. Our cows are treated very well. They are hand-raised with love and we have great affection for each of their personalities. They all have names and they all get petted and fed the occasional apples or carrots (No grain)! We don't use chemical pesticides, growth hormones or antibiotics. (If they need antibiotics, we treat them, but don't eat them!)
What breed of cattle do you raise?
We raise Irish Dexter and Irish Dexter/Jersey crossed cattle because of their small size, sweet temperaments, and the ability to thrive on grass, local hay and forage. The cuts are a smaller size and are slightly darker red and lean, desirable for those living a Paleo or keto lifestyle.
Do you eat the meat?
Yes. And we are almost out!
We like knowing where our food comes from. We know that our cows had marvelous lives and the week before harvest, we spend extra time loving on them. People do laugh at us! It does make it a little more difficult on the day, but it also makes us appreciate the nutrition they provide.
Can I come pet them?
We're working on that! We think of cows as big cats. Not only do they groom each other and themselves with their sandpaper tongues, they are stand-offish like cats! We have had people here to pet them, and the herd spends it's time as far away from people as the corral allows! As soon as company leaves, the cows are right back over to us, pushing each other out of the way and angling for the best neck scratches!
How can I buy some meat?
It is a somewhat complicated process, but we try to simplify it for you.
A whole beef for cut/wrap: $960.00 to us before harvest date. We now require a 50% deposit before we choose a harvest date.
The beef then goes to the available butcher who cuts/wraps to your specifications. When it is ready, you pick up the beef and pay the butcher fees based on the hanging weight of the beef. As of the writing of this, it can range from from $1.29 to $1.50 per pound (unless you want some processed into sausages or something like that).
A whole beef for ground beef: $850.00 to us before harvest date. Again, 50% deposit before we pick harvest date.
The beef then goes to the available butcher who grinds it and if necessary, adds fat from one of our other cows to make the burger a little less lean. We ask them to shoot for 80/20. When it is ready, you pick up the beef and pay the butcher fees based on the hanging weight of the beef.
Will you sell a half share of beef?
Yes, but that is as small as we go. The half price is roughly half the cost of the whole.
What is hanging weight?
This is the weight at the butcher shop before aging and processing. The weight can vary quite a bit depending on age and bone structure of the cattle. Hanging weight on a whole beef can be between 300 and 600 pounds. After aging and processing, the weight you actually take home is about 60%.
Contact us at deann@carltonwindacres.com if you are interested or with any questions.