Soup bone and whole beef questions

[Rachel J.]

I can get good, grass-fed beef soup bones from the HFS for about $2.75/lb. That seems a little pricey to me for heavy bones, what do you all pay? Also, we've split a whole beef with family the past two years but only get about 4 lbs total of soup bones. I know there are more bones in that cow, is it normal/possible to get them? Next time we do the beef I want to get everything I can, heart, cheeks, tongue, extra bones. Anything else I should ask for? I'm thinking I'll leave the brain and sweetbreads. My cousin is a chef and does amazing things with the sweetbreads so I'll leave those for him

[MaryCeleste]

When we buy a quarter of grass-fed beef, we always ask for extra bones, and are given at least half a dozen big packages. I don't know if they charge for them or not, as I've never been able to decipher the receipt.

I've usually been able to get other things, like liver, heart, and extra fat (back fat or suet, great for making tallow & pemmican), but they're sometimes out of them by the time we pick up our order. It really depends on whether or not other people are asking for them, too. It certainly can't hurt to put in your request!

[saratc]

Grassfed bones around here are $1 from one farmer who I can only order from once every couple of months, or $2 from the other farmer who I order from every two weeks. Definitely ask for all the parts when you get a side of beef; tell the farmer you want all the bones and fat and organs.