The COST of Raising Your Own BEEF | 2021 Big Family Homestead

[@hickoryhillinthebigwoods-r759]

We raised two head from 2019 to March of this year. They were strictly pasture fed, no grain. We bottle fed them for the first few months. After calculating hay, milk, processing fees, we calculated we paid $1.80 per pound.

[@Bigfamilyhomestead]

AWESOME! Love it :)

[@milknhoneyheritagefarms4706]

We raise dexter cows. We finally are up to 5 butchers every year. We sell 4. That pays for all the feed, hay, cut and wrap and then some. My cows know their names. And are loved

[@fourdayhomestead2839]

Thank you for sharing. My daughter raises mine & processes it locally. My half came to $1.65#. I'm so greatful for it!

[@kristivandenberg6339]

We were gifted a quarter cow several years ago and got another quarter cow last year. The price is yes good, better but the quality is amazing. This how we will buy beef from now on.

[@hannahsbackyard5960]

We just bought a whole Angus Beef from a local farmer/friend here in the fox valley area. We paid 2,711.25 total for just over 800lbs! It came to 3.23 a lb which I was really happy about compared to buying from a store. I have wanted to raise my own but after all the research I did I figured it was so much easier to buy from the farmer. On the other hand I would love to raise one or two pigs! Quicker turn around and you can feed them more of a variety of feed. Which ever way people chose to do it, I would also recommend like you said, either raise your own or buy from a local farmer! You save so much in the long run! And the quality alone is worth it! Have a great day guys, and enjoy some of those steaks LOL

[@LoriT541]

FYI pigs fare better when raised with 2 or more. They need a companion and with that companion pig they compete for food. Get another buyer lined up for the second pig and share costs. Or sell like the farmer did to you and charge a bit more to cover some of your costs and time. We didn't have a garden or kitchen scraps when we raised pigs. We bought 15 50# bags of pig feed per pig. When that feed was down to the last bag it was time to schedule the butcher to come for a visit. I bet garden overages would have made the meat tastier. But my pig pen is now my goat pen. Since times are changing I just might have to build another pig pen 😉.

[@babsblan]

People who are limited in freezer space, you can also can beef.

[@kennykeef1852]

Two years later and I love this video! This is a dream of mine to have in the future, because I feel the exact same way with the meat industry! Thank you and semper fi brother!

[@PapaKryptoss]

I heard the chickens in the background in agreement with you on eating beef and not them. LOL. My grandfather used to process his own beef and pork. I watched him do it and he was very good at it.

[@mrs8792]

Blessings! Blessings! Blessings!

[@jennsadventures84]

We are so grateful to my local farmers. They do such an awesome job raising beef. With only one of us who eats the beef. We pay far below market prices. And get a FAR better side of beef. Animals raised in great condition.

[@milknhoneyheritagefarms4706]

You guys are funny! Love it. Looking at raising turkeys this spring. So fun

[@adiane-vd2kn]

Super informative, I'd love to do this someday! Thanks for the info!

[@christiebetts4970]

Thanks for doing this.If the Lord is willing,i would like a few cows

[@TeresaAlley]

Great video! Thanks for sharing! ♥️

[@adamkopf2619]

I love the philosophy of raising animals to have a great and healthy life with 1 bad day. That’s something that as I’m thinking about my future in raising livestock, I often remind myself.

[@leisaparke580]

We raised our own beef. Grass feed no grain. Cost us 70cents a pound to prosess.

[@mrs8792]

My man friend raises lambs and butchers them at 1 year old. They are incredibly good! I don’t like mutton, but lamb rocks! I’d love to raise beef some day as well. Yum!

[@theverch1]

I’m a new subscriber and about to binge watch. Where are y’all located? That price on hay is amazing. We currently have dairy goats but are researching cows for our 40 acre farm.

[@AridiaMoonWolf]

Ribeye here in western WA was 40+$ per lb. It's insane!

[@bitsofme]

Our freezer is full. Will not have to pay those large prices at the store. Already feeding out one for next year.

[@karenpolzin8297]

We have been buying a 1/4 beef for years, works great for us! This year we are doing more burger as the freezer is getting very low! Also going to ask about pre-made patties. They are convenient for a quick meal! If too pricey from the processor, we'll make some ourselves and freeze.

[@EmeryShae]

We buy most of our meat from a local farmer because I want quality meat. I wish we were in a position to raise some ourselves, because that is a crazy savings!! I am grateful to get grass fed ground beef for around $5/lb in Canada.

[@thinkingofothers353]

Yes ,, thank you our LORD...I am glad you say thanks.....🙏..

[@eronimatai9867]

In my Country beef cattle raising is purely organic, they're just left in the fence and left to feed, we don't feed them corns or any grain , but sometimes we do feed them with coconuts since we have abumdance, other then that they're left to roam around widely for most times no chemicals no nothing

[@ruthj.4845]

Awesome!

[@fannysells560]

You guys are great. Love the humor. Thank you for sharing. Price of cheapest rib eye in our local grocery chain grocery store in our area is on sale $13.99 per pound this is for prime meat.

[@johnfortwengler4496]

Christa. Don't cattle prod Brad. Lol

[@soeffner6833]

Talked the wife into buying a 1/2 beef this year at end of summer. Even with buying another small top down freezer. Saw the shortage coming. We have saved a ton of money here in Oregon. Prices jumped to double and triple this fall on certain cuts.

[@mariayelruh]

I think processing costs depends on where you live. I'm in SE, Pennsylvania and have never seen prices like that. Many hunters are paying over $1 a pound for processing.

[@johnfortwengler4496]

Brad clean your shoes the sarcasm is dripping. On them. Lol

[@hurdman7899]

Rib Eye in Commiefornia is $15.99 per pound. 80/20 is $4.99. Chuck Steak is $6.99.

[@amandaforeman2626]

We started raising our own meat after I watched the doc “ food inc” , wonderful video!

[@danikagoecke6751]

Rib eye steak where I live in Arkansas is $27 a pound. Crazy. Thanks for sharing this info!

[@lucysocha5237]

I wish with my whole heart that I could talk with you folks. This was very informative and helpful. Thank you. Is it okay if I reference your KZbin information. I'm writing an article for the NYT. I hope they don't reject my story. I am outraged at all the lies about what fast food restaurants are charging for a hamburger. McDonald people are saying it costs them around $6.00 lb to buy their beef for burgers. Yeah, right? Excellent videos. God bless you and I appreciate your honesty and sincerity.

[@vidalott]

It’s 2024, and I’m like, $5 per lbs grass fed ground beef? What a steal.

[@jamescarpenter5877]

Semper Fi brother! Imma start watching

[@caka8662]

my dads a army vet so i got it right away lol, perfect reasoning for the crayon!!

[@vidalott]

Crayon definitely makes sense, Jarhead.

[@lindalemieux4184]

At a small popular store in Appleton they had a sign out ground beef 5 a pound. Wow. I used to pay 2 a pound. I have not made chili in a long time.

[@rubymcgilvra1771]

Thin cut rib eye at Walmart here where we live in north east Texas is 19.97 per pound

[@TreasureRescue]

That's so economical! Meat is pricey here in western PA, 45 min north of Pittsburgh. Walmart Ribeyes were $17lb for choice and prime ribeye at Sams is $20lb. Tack on another $10 per pound at other chain grocers. Ground beef 80/20 is on sale right now for 2.98lb but normally over $4lb...its insane.

[@mimasminihomestead]

Call a near by locker. Many will have a list of farmers who sell whole half or quarters...

[@garrettb72]

When they turn the electric off and your freezer comes to temp, don't come this way knocking for potatoes or rice ;)

[@patriciacomedyandlife3716]

My old man and his dad also Raise Beef cattle WE ALSO GROW OUR OWN HEY THE MEAT IS SO SO VERY MUCH BETTER ....

[@babsblan]

I've heard that the meat processing places around here are backed up a very long time

[@brendahere]

The issue in our area is that farmers have to Schudule their butchering because soon we will be in dear hunting season. Beef can be Scheduled because it's alive until it can be done. Deer is a different case.

[@annfromma8456]

I live in MA and the cheapest I can find rib eye is $14.47 a lb when I buy the whole 21 lb piece. In my supermarkets, the price is closer to $20 a pound. Ground beef, 90/10, is around $6 to $7 a pound. We love beef but can't afford it.

[@robertlaw8510]

I live in a city so raising a cow is out of the question. I did contact a rancher who would sell me a half a cow at about 2.80/lb with a 200 butcher fee. At 300 lbs it comes out to about $3.53/lb. I know that is not as good as what you can get when you raise your own or have a rancher friend.

[@julieoneil1279]

i have only purchased one package of ground beef and I mean 3 lbs like once in the past couple months find pork roasts or chops cheaper than hamburger at the stores- crazy huh yeah I might need to buy another freezer so I can start getting my meat from a nearby farm or at least from a locker plant nearby can later use the extra freezer for prepared freezer meals ect I am sure--

[@dorothydavis6276]

For the same reason I can you know what is in it . Do you know how to can meat?

[@Bigfamilyhomestead]

Yes... we have several videos on that....

[@patriciakoester1580]

I saw a Ribeye on sale today 13.99, last year I got them on sale for 6.99 lb. Horrible!!! Patricia

[@Spry011]

Does all of that meat fit into a single deep freezer? Or how much freezer space does it require?

[@tresfingeros]

As you said, "stock yards" are not good..🥺

[@kimberli2391]

Amazingly low prices where you live! We pay about $3.50 per pound for the same thing.

[@lyricst.germaine1153]

We have a modest 4 acres. HAVE to make this happen.

[@janesecaraway3995]

Thought you were gonna show us your beef pile...amount hamburger, etc.??

[@Bigfamilyhomestead]

? This was not titled a "beef haul" but the cost...

[@kristic78]

@@Bigfamilyhomestead I think when you said "and I'll unpack it" that's what they were expecting to see. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@thehappymeatfarmrios4948]

I wish my husband would let me have a cow. We do have chickens, sheep, and rabbits. Our freezers are full so I can’t complain. We do have plenty of meat.

[@thehappymeatfarmrios4948]

We also have three little pigs that will be ready in the spring

[@shervin6711]

I am trying to figure out how I can clear more room in our separate freezer so we could have room to get meat more local. We also have a garden, so I froze allot of vegetables. Trying to learn canning. ( HUGE siphoning fails, with apples so far) How do you all, organize your pantries/ freezers to have the " room" to buy more local/bulk/etc?

[@amandaforeman2626]

Take a look at rose red homestead ! She’s amazing with canning ! Also have you picked up a ball blue book? It’s wonderful !

[@shervin6711]

@@amandaforeman2626 yes ball was my first purchase :) did post question to her channel about siphoning.. apparently I am a first🤣🤣 to have floating jars of apples!🤔 She was very kind in response. Left me an extension link for further research.

[@amandaforeman2626]

@@shervin6711 awesome !

[@brendahere]

Just got call from butcher. Our 1/2 is done. It's 340 for processing. My guess its 700 for farmer. We should see 400 pounds, give or take. For 1100. Maybe 1200, that's meat for 2 years (or less if we supply meat at the cabin during the summer-which is what we did in the past.) 50 to 75 a month for all types of cuts of meat. The down fall? I've become a meat snob. It's very hard to eat out or eat friends meals with store bought meat. Another thought. We just took the family out to celebrate something. The total bill with tip was $350. Three celebration meals eating out just abouts pays for all that meat that will feed us over a year. Crazy

[@toniaduplichain9482]

Make sure you ask if it’s a yearling!!!! A group of us got jacked bad!!!! 😞

[@SchoolyB]

Love the Marine corps joke. RAH

[@tamarasalyer257]

Hopefully when I buy a house next spring I can do that. My question though is this. When I go to a grocery store to buy meat, i.e. 2 lb of hamburger to make patties or 4 pork chops to put in the freezer, I will put a patty or pork chop in a freezer bag. The problem is it lasts 3 months or less due to freezer burn. Apparently freezer bags aren't the way to go. What's the best way to wrap it to put in the freezer so it will last 6 months to a year? I know when you get 1/4 beef etc they wrap in that white paper and it lasts much longer but this is for the small purchases of meat. Thanks.

[@sharongypsydove6080]

By yourself an inexpensive food saver.. And suction bag seal all your meat... It just takes a couple minutes to do it and it last for months to years..... My son gets salmon probably a 150 pounds a year and duck and geese turkeys and grouse and quail and elk, bear and then he probably gets about 6 deer a year.. And we use a food saver on all of it... Although because we do so much with it we have a much larger more expensive food saver model.. But I actually just found some venison and salmon in the bottom of my freezer that was marked from 3 years ago absolutely no freezer burn and I cooked it up and it was perfectly fine..

[@ceepark114]

A way to preserve meat, at least for chicken, what we do is buy shrink bags and seal it that way using almost boiling water. We've had chicken frozen in those bags for 2-3 years not get freezer burn.

[@roxannern9393]

We buy from a local farmer. The cost is $1.76/lb to the farmer and $1.00/lb to the butcher; so, $2.76/lb of mostly grass fed or grass fed and finished beef. I buy from local farms through Market Wagon which also makes it possible to have relationships with local farmers. Also try your local co-op and 4H clubs--if you have them--coming from SE Florida and then an island in Alaska, we didn't have all of these options at once. However, cities generally do have Market Wagon--so, no excuses. I do not buy processed foods from them, only whole foods that can be canned by me for my family's later consumption. I am not an owner and make no money giving this information. I am a nurse and do not trust corporate America because of my nursing experiences.

[@nancycoy9510]

I have been a vegetarian since 1963 starting when I was 12. I am a fan of your channel. I prefer not to eat meat & have 5 adult kids that all are meat eaters & I even use to make food for them & the Ex with meat in it usually not knowing what it tasted like but they said they liked it . I have made many a Thanksgiving turkeys even though I preferred not to eat it and didn't. Everyone should be able to chose what they eat. I like how you talked about valuing your animals & giving them their best life possible. Keep up the great work I enjoy both of your sense of humor.

[@heatherbrodian6129]

$13 to $17 per # here in Hellinois.

[@shervin6711]

Can, you can molasses? Was thinking of buying in bulk, a gallon for example...but wanted to pour it into smaller jars in hopes it would " expire" less quickly. Not sure if it would work or necessary, to stay " tasting" ok.

[@auntym4729]

Jar it!

[@shervin6711]

@@auntym4729 thank you.

[@mikelafleur1760]

In Texas it’s 12-15 dollars a pound

[@Bigfamilyhomestead]

OUCH!!!!!

[@Birdlovr1]

How much freezer space do you need for a whole cow on average?

[@Bigfamilyhomestead]

We just put all of the 400lbs into one that was about 5ft across, and had about a third of the room to spare...

[@Birdlovr1]

@@Bigfamilyhomestead I should get a bigger freezer!

[@heidibrydson3793]

You are right, anyone that can do this needs to. Like my neighbor says, I give them a great childhood. We need less factory farms, and more family farms, and small ranchers. I graduated Ag. Science, in 1987, they told us we would be middle men for Big Ag.. Sadly they were right, that or Big Pharma reps. We can't let this happen. They want to get rid of Livestock period, and they don't want us self reliant either.

[@tessie652001]

Cant raise our beef here . So wish I could . I’ve been lookin and so far nothing can raise chickens bunnies and small goats n shhhh pigs

[@charlesvanderkooi5358]

Hanging Weight or finished weight???

[@mattsonmailbox]

Hey 👋 new to the channel I am considering getting into Farming as a little hobby but my question is bible related do you know what exodus 23:10-11 means?

[@NorthnSouthHomestead]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@jeanettemartin7919]

ribeye at 25 dollars a pound☹

[@Bigfamilyhomestead]

OUCH!!!!!

[@billroe6864]

lol not mr z he is honest as cov19

[@sheilagibson510]

😂😂😂

[@christiancelticwarrior1222]

How much was the cost of the hay 😂 here's an idea offer to serve and cut your neighbours lawn for free, make new friends in the process, spread the gospel and get free hay for your labour, Win, win, win 🤔😊

[@gerrymarmee3054]

Just traveled through some huge feed lots. The stench was awful. Its just not right to see thousands of cattle just standing around in putrid soil.

[@debbie2663]

👍🏻👍🏻🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻

[@noname-lx1oj]

Apartment life sucks.

[@ToryE1959]

I’m in SW Wisconsin, rib steak is our favorite cut of beef. A steak I use to pay $10.99-$12.00 for is NOW $28.98……(Walmart)…obviously we’ve not bought this item is a long time… I refuse to pay that…. I always go to meat isle just to examine the increase each week. Crazy

[@juanduenas1943]

I stop listening once people start talking about morals. Not interested in an ethics class stay on topic.