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Update on the Grass Fed Meat Co-Op, Ive had a chunk of farm fresh cow and it gets 2 hooves up from me. The meat came fresh (not frozen), bagged in portions and labelled with what cut of meat it was and cooking instructions for each cut (braise, grill etc). The meat was portioned up in sizes appropriate for a single person or couples, the steaks were in bags of 2, mince 250g bags etc. Couldnt give you an exact list of what was in the pack but there was a good mix of roasts, sausages, awesome steaks, stewing meat, uncrumbed snitzels etc and the meat is really tasty.
There are a couple of sources of meat and it seems like they are pretty close on price, it will just be a matter of availability when we go to order. It appears it comes in fairly standard size lots – around $540, $270 and $135 – I got a $270 lot and it appeared to be around the 30kg mark (its was a massive box of MEAAAT). My guestimation would be it going to last 2 of us around a month (thats hitting the meat pretty hard), I think the $135 would last a single person around a month depending on how strong your meat lust is. Btw the box of meat I got fit into a fairly standard fridge/freezer sized freezer.
So from here its just a matter of people confirming what size chunk they would like ($540 = whole, $270 = half, $135 = quarter). Once we have a few confirmed people we’ll order a cow, its a strict COD situation and the beef gets delivered to one place and everyone meets (meats..) there to collect on the day.
If your in, name and chunk size to comments
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Yeah, I’ve been wanting to do this for a while. Definitely interested.
yep, i too have read about this and am keen. in fact ive been keen since daniel killed a goat and it fed us for months for nothing! just need to get a bigger freezer.
Until I read that you had a supplier I was going to say I could always hit up the old man for a beast(family runs Murray Greys on Yorkes) and get it sliced and diced.. Guess it comes down to cost.
It’s an interesting topic as really a fair amount of beef in SA is run on pasture (with maybe some supplementing with hay during the leaner seasons) and I’ll vouch for that! But there is a lot of feed lot cattle meat out there as more kgs of product can be produced in a shorter period.. It would be good to be able to find out how to trace this back to the butchers.
At the end of the day tho, buying in bulk is always the way to go!
It tastes way better than grain fed, I’m keen if its available!
I am in, in my local organic shop it doesn’t look to to fresh and is 45$ a kg almoust like tuna
I’m interested, but do we get to do the whole paleo thing and hunt it ourselves
I’m interested. Can we get a line on bulk free-range chicken too?
Sounds like a good idea. Storage space is a bit low with me so would be good to know the full details when available but i’d be a good chance for partaking.
Late night rant: Before you go forking out your hard earned cash on grass-fed beef, in Australia there is no clear definition of what grass-fed actually means… most cattle is raised here on free pasture, but the degree of feed-lot supplementation isn’t taken into consideration (ie – it could vary between 10% – 90% grass fed)… check out this link
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/aboutus/news/agriculture-today/august-2009/right-tags-for-grass-fed-beef
As for “free-range” chickens – in Australia there is no legal definition. RSPCA standards include “Maximum of 7 birds (15kg) per sq meter” and “Adequate shelter; complete protection from predators; clean air; adequate and readily available supply of clean potable water and balanced food”… as long as it’s not intensive cage systems (ie – they can flap their wings), they’re good to go. No mention of them being let out.
There are lots of definitions… caveat emptor… google shall set you free http://www.choice.com.au/Reviews-and-Tests/Food-and-Health/Food-and-drink/Organic-and-free-range/Free-range-eggs/Page/Setting%20standards.aspx
I guess before getting some need to ask some questions.
KZ
what about kangaroo it should be 100% organic…
Spoke to my old man last night.. (and just then to confirm facts and figures)
Family runs Murray Greys with 2 drops of calves per year, 1 in early spring, the other in early autumn. The cattle for sale are usually 6-8months old and may not be fully weaned from their mothers at this time. The spring drop which about ready now is fed on green pasture and then crop stubble in later summer months. The early autumn drop is supplemented with cereal hay during winter, which is reduced in spring and is used to reduce bloat apparently. These then have 2-3 months on green pasture.
Heifers(fem) are slightly cheaper and may have a slightly increased bf% over the male(minus their man bits) Steers.
Now you are all up to date on bovine husbandry, here’s the figures..
for a live weight of 310kgs a heifer costs $500, steers $530, to get it dressed and packaged depends on weight, cuts, portioning, but you’re looking at around $150, which gets you everything minus the head and skin. On request things like tongue/oxtail/soup bones can be supplied.
live weight from the farm is about 270-350kgs
Hope it helps..
All I have to say to that is… hook me up. I’ll buy a bigger freezer.
I’m in aswell, need to up my red meat intake. Too much chicken is making me crazy, I need meeeaat.
i’d be keen! for prob much smaller cuts tho…dont have space for a big freezer, or yet a big fridge even.
So been doing some googling, cos just way to tired today
found this one http://southwestfarmfresh.com.au/swff/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=210
Just called up, and yes they deliver to ADL, it comes freezed and are delivered to depo. Makes about 16 aud per kg!!!!!!
There is one pack left otherwise they do orders once a month or two.
If there is 2 or more ppl willing to chip in now I would post the order. Makes about 200$ each for 3 ppl. Let me know
KZ
8 ppl wanted so bad, really noone?
I am definitely interested. We have health problems we shouldn’t have grain fed, also for eggs as well as chicken. We have gluten intolerance to deal with.
But how would u be able to get it out to all the different people, we are in a rural community things take a while to get it? But if u can, then we are in. Can’t even have a baby bit of gluten at all.
@SGA I assumed that ppl are in adl. Otherwise have to pick up from my place, and I can not do definet gluten free.
I was just thinking lamb in au is grown on grass – is all lamb in shops 100% grass fed?
I have had meat in bulk from Wychwood and both the lamb and beef were exquisite. If you have a freezer and can store it buying in bulk is exceptional value. We had a freezer full which saw us through most of last winter. Although I would buy in bulk again I would prefer to share this time so let me know if you want to share a side or sheep. The people at wychwood are lovely too and welcome visitors. Their delivery service is good althought the meat does not come frozen which may be a problem for some.
soren just got a chunk of cow and I now have a section of a chunk of a cow. Its a fair chunk (my guess around 25kg of beef), it is nicely portioned and labelled (ie Blade Steak – grill or fry etc). Ive eaten some of the snitzels (not crumbed) and the meat is really tasty and very lean, the other major plus is that we have a fairly small freezer (a lil one of top of a regular size fridge) and managed to fairly comfortably pack all the meat in there, just kept one of the roasts out.
It was $270 for whatever amount of meat I got, I think it will last 2 people maybe a month or more, depends how hard I go on it. it would definately last one person a fair while. The way it is portioned I think you could fairly easily split it again ($135)
I thought I had responded to this post but I guess not, it is a great idea to share in good quality meat.
I am in to share beef anytime. Just let me know. Bit pricey to drop 600 aud on your own.
I’ll go in for a quarter ($135).
Count me in… yum… 1/4 to start with…
I’m in for a $135 quarter
I’m for 270 one
ooops looked at size pls 135 one, will hand over cahs on tuesday
Ive spoken to the man with meat hookups and we’re seeing about obtaining a beast for consumption. Ill post details of pickup etc as soon as I know
im keen for a 1/4 cow
Keen for $135 worth of dead animal…..let me know when you want the green!
Still waiting to hear from the beast master re: cow, I did have another look at Wychwood Meat over the weekend and it appears their prices are pretty comparable and they have cows at the ready so we could possibly pop a cow order in this weekend for the weekend if people were keen.
Quick note on cost – $135 is a rough figure,you buy a portion of a cow so if it is a massive beast it could be more ($160 etc). I assume thats not a problem for most people just thought I should mention it in case anyone is on a strict $135 meat budget.
I am still keen for a chunk cow. Not exactly sure how I’ll fit it on the thunderhorse, but I’ll burn that bridge when i come to it.
I’m guessing there’ll be a few posts to the recipe section in the next few months
By the way, thanks for making me remember this: http://www.stuckinthe80s.com/image.php?productid=16665
alllllrighty.
Ive got 8 people :-
Russell
Karlis
Kev
Sarah
Josh (TH)
Josh H
Emma
Lloyd
Ive contacted Wychwood re: a whole side of cow, they should get back to me shortly but im going to aim for a Saturday 17th delivery. Ill email all the interested parties anyway with the details.
The recipe section will get its own beef sub heading soon
Woohoo!!! Thanks Ben!!