Interesting site. Ranchers selling direct to the public.

[Faster horses]

https://www.goodranchers.com/collections/core-boxes

 

[Puzzled]

I didn't realize the steaks I'm eating are worth $60.00 a pound.

 

[webfoot]

Interesting how much chicken is included. Could that be because chicken is a lot cheaper so there is more profit to include it.

You see Riverbend Beef advertised on TV. They have their own feedlot and processing plant over in Idaho. My neighbor buys bulls from them. They buy his calves. Some of their ads on TV they have pictures of the ranch families who raise the calves. Haven't seen the neighbors picture yet.

 

[Faster horses]

What family food purchasers don't understand (about buying beef directly from a rancher) is that the price of cattle on the hoof, at the sale ring, sets the base price of an animal. Then add in the feed they consume to get to slaughter weight and then the cost of processing is what the rancher will ask. (or you can buy the beef and pay the processing yourself--it all comes out the same cost in the end). I just talked to a friend who has sold meat directly to the public for years and he said, all things considered, the price of a beef, cut, wrapped and frozen would be $5000+ or - (depending on weight). They have gone to selling cuts instead of selling beef by 1/2 or whole. People just can't afford to pay that. They are getting $8/lb for ground beef. People are buying that because they want to know what is in their ground beef. Our neighbor across the road bought a half beef, cut, wrapped and frozen and it cost him $2700. He had to driver to Billings to get it (over 200 miles round trip). And he isn't happy with the meat.
Processing has gotten very expensive, too.
Our Albertson's store here has run specials on steak. Last week their special was T-bones for $9.99. This week Tri-tip roast is $6.99. The other grocery in town ran Boneless Pork Loin (whole in the bag) for $1.97/lb. They went through CASES of pork loin. Myself, I don't buy it except to run it through the tenderizer (cuber) to make pork cube steak. Pork loin is pretty dry but people will sure buy it because of the price.
One thing, buying direct from the rancher, you do know what you are getting. Buying at the store, that meat is never allowed to hang very long. No one wants to own it long enough for it to hang. I think that is sad, because hanging is very important to the quality of meat. IMO.

 

[Puzzled]

GoodRanchers shows about 2.9 stars as far as their ratings. Some of the complaints are meat thawing before reaching its destination.
I hope to sell one or two this year for locker meat, but not sure where to put the price. Hanging weight prices in the
Willamette Valley appear to be $5.00 and up, per pound. The processing fee is extra.

 

[webfoot]

Last summer we were running out of burger and so was my son. So I went to the sale and bought a younger kill cow. Hauled her straight to the butcher. I don't remember the weights but she hung up a pretty good percentage. We did weigh up the finished burger. It cost us $8.00 a pound. The big plants make money on the fact that they slaughter a lot more efficiently than a small guy. The also sell the offal ($11.00 +/= per cwt). Where as the small guy has to pay to have it hauled off.

 

[Puzzled]

I was looking at the Lebanon Auction prices. 3 and 4 weight heifers were bringing $5 and up. Some of the 4 weight steers were doing about the same. Hadn't looked at their sales for a while, so they may have been at that level for some time.

 

[webfoot]

I was looking at the Lebanon Auction prices. 3 and 4 weight heifers were bringing $5 and up. Some of the 4 weight steers were doing about the same. Hadn't looked at their sales for a while, so they may have been at that level for some time.

They are easily that and more. I have seen 3 weight steers sell for $6.30. 5 weight steers selling for $5 +. Watched some good red steers weighing in the 7's bring over $4.00. Today I saw good kill cows bring $1.70+. Pairs with smaller young calves at $4,500.

 

[jodywy]

Crook county Wyoming, population 7,200 people, number of cattle 82,000, Campbell County Wyoming Population 47,000, number of cattle 69,000, yeah, we need to find markets else were

 

[Puzzled]

There are a few ranchers that have animals processed, store the meat in freezers at there ranch, and people come to their ranch and buy it. I think it has to be processed at a USDA facility. That would allow customers to buy smaller amounts
than a 1/2 or a 1/4. But not a practical set up for some.

 

[webfoot]

Crook county Wyoming, population 7,200 people, number of cattle 82,000, Campbell County Wyoming Population 47,000, number of cattle 69,000, yeah, we need to find markets else were

Same story here. 16,000 people in a county bigger than the state of Delaware. 10,000 in Baker City and the rest spread out on ranches all over the county. Cows vastly out number the people.

 

[Faster horses]

Friend sold black baldy heifers at auction, they grossed $2800. He said 640# @$4.40. They were wintered on hay and mineral.