Ordering in Bulk
If it’s your first time ordering in bulk there are a few things you should be aware of to avoid confusion and misunderstanding. Additionally there are a couple of things you should need to consider to see if this is the right option for you.
What is Rail weight and why is it important?
Simply put, the rail weight (also known as hanging weight, hot carcass weight or dressed weight) is the weight of the carcass after the first stage of processing where the hide, guts, feet etc. have been removed. We sell our meat based on this dressed weight.
Why is this important to know?
It’s critical to understand this because it is NOT the final amount of *boneless meat* you will end up with in your freezer. Over the course of the ageing process (which increase tenderness and flavour of meat), the carcass will lose moisture weight. Then when the carcass is broken down by the butcher into the various cuts of meat you’ve specified they will also be some removing cartilage, bone and excess fat in the process. An average you can expect for beef is about 66% yield from this carcass - so if you have a 750lbs dressed carcass you can expect to put around 500lbs of trimmed boneless cuts into your freezer. There are several different things that can affect this ‘shrinkage’ - mainly the cuts you choose - but you should always be aware that it can vary.
This is how most farmers do it and we set our prices with the weight reduction in mind. We do this as your personal choice of cuts can affect the final total yield so it’s more fair for both the farmer and customer.
The same is also true for other livestock as well but the % yield varies depending on species.
Goat: 50% (boneless) meat yield is normal but smaller animals tends to be less.
Pork: 75% for regular meat breeds and more towards 60% for those that are ‘pot-belly’ type.
Is this the best option for you?
Do you and your family eat meat regularly as a part of a healthy diet? Do you have a large freezer (chest or stand-up) that has enough available room or are you willing to purchase another freezer? If the answer is yes to those questions, then you are in the right place.
It’s important to not over-purchase meat. Frozen meat typically keeps it’s best quality for a year but can actually be kept for a lot longer (provided it is always kept frozen with no variation in temperate and humidity) - however the longer your keep it the higher the risk for freezer burn (which dries out the meat and can reduce the quality). The average family of four eats about 450-500 lbs of meat annually. So, the size of your family as well as how often you eat meat should factor in to what size order you may want to make. Typically, a quarter of one of our beefs is 175 lbs, a half beef is 350 lbs, a whole beef is 700 lbs, a half pig is 100 lbs and a whole pig is 200 lbs (of course weight will vary between individual animals). Goats are usually around 30 - 40 lbs.
It’s also important to be aware of how much storage capacity you have. Usually you can calculate one cubic foot of freezer space to hold about 35-40 lbs of meat. Most cuts fit together very space-efficiently however some cuts like ribs, brisket, whole turkeys or hams may have a more awkward shape that takes up more room.
If bulk order just isn’t the right thing for your family or you simply don’t have the available room, fret not! We also sell meat in small quantities and individual packs. You can find out more by visiting this page:
Advantages of ordering in bulk
When you buy meat in bulk the meat is flash frozen right after it has been processed which retains its freshness and quality. You don’t have to waste your time going to the grocery store 3 times a week because you now have high quality frozen meat at home. You know what you have and how much you have so you can plan your meals accordingly. Additionally it is easier to budget for one larger predictable sum than it is for many small unpredictable purchases throughout the year. The best part of all is you won’t believe how good the meat tastes compared to store bought meat! The quality is simply incomparable!
There are many, many more advantages of buying local but here are just a few of the top of my head:
From a local farmer you know where your food comes from and how it was raised and cared for.
You know who the farmer is and the practices the farmer uses to care for their livestock.
You can always ask questions and get the answer directly from your farmer.
You can actually visit the farm.
Your meat will have been raised locally and processed at a local butcher - meaning the meat’s food miles are minimal AND your hard-earned money stays within the local economy and community.
We appreciate every single family who supports our family farm and our shared values.