How much is 1/4 cow?

[ihugtrees]

My DH and I are considering converting from vegetarianism to eating some grassfed, organic meat. We don't want to eat meat *that* often starting out, but it does appear that buying a 1/4 cow would be cheaper per lb than buying individual cuts. I think we'd probably like to eat meat 1-2 meals per week (probably will eat chicken and fish once a week each too.) At that rate, how long would a 1/4 cow last us?

[cristeen]

It depends on the size of the cow, and how it's butchered. An entire cow can range from 600 to over 1000 pounds. You'd be better off asking that question of the farmer you're thinking of buying from.

[mnnice]

Originally Posted by ihugtrees

My DH and I are considering converting from vegetarianism to eating some grassfed, organic meat. We don't want to eat meat *that* often starting out, but it does appear that buying a 1/4 cow would be cheaper per lb than buying individual cuts. I think we'd probably like to eat meat 1-2 meals per week (probably will eat chicken and fish once a week each too.) At that rate, how long would a 1/4 cow last us?

We have bought a 1/4 of beef each year for the past several years and have trouble eating it in a year. If you eat beef twice per week I bet it would take almost 2 years (if you are getting a similar sized quarter as we get). This year we opted to buy 25 lbs of ground beef instead of quarter.

Buying a quarter usually is a good value, but for just two adults I think I'd find someone to split a quarter with first or start with pastured chickens first.

we are a family of four--two adults, a 7 yo, and a 4 year old). We also buy 1/2 a pig, a lamb, and several chickens each year.

[Caneel]

Here is a link to my half-a-cow adventure that gives some info on size and weights - http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1146497

[annethcz]

There is a farm near us that sells beef in bulk in smaller quantities- around 30lbs. or so. It's more expensive than buying a 1/2 or 1/4 of a cow, but less expensive than buying similar quantities at the grocery/natural foods store.

It takes my family of 6 about a year to go through a 1/4 cow, eating beef about twice a week. The last few times we've bought a split side, it's been 150-190lbs. hanging weight.

[noobmom]

Really depends on the cow. We've gotten local beef twice now. Once it was about 125 lbs of meat (1/2 a cow or a "side"). Second time was about 200 lbs from a whole beef. But we get our beef from family farms where they don't grow the animals as big or old.

If you and DH are eating beef only 1-2 times a week, you won't use more than a pound or 1.5 pounds at most. Since it's best that the meat is used up within 9 months to a year, I wouldn't get more than about 50 lbs of meat. If it's a really young, small animal, that might work out to about a 1/4, but I think in most cases a 1/4 would be too much for you.