Price of meat almost doubled here...do you folks have a meat processor nearby?

[RickB]

Question: If you take your own animal(s) to a processor, how (other than trust and reputation) do you know you're getting YOUR animal back, ONLY your animal and ALL of your animal?

Easy answer. Other than trust and reputation, you do not.

 

[RickB]

I came across this chart of boxed beef prices over the last few years. One of these packers, JBS, has massive interests in Brazilian beef and is a huge force behind importing beef into the US.
What exactly is boxed beef you ask? Here is the definition:
Boxed beef – Cuts of beef put in boxes for shipping from a packing plant to retailers. These primal (rounds, loins, ribs, chucks, etc.) and subprimal cuts are intermediate cuts between the carcass and retail cuts. — Cattle and beef market definitions University of Tennessee

Live cattle import restrictions are in the news, but actual 2020 live cattle imports for 2020 are down year over year.

 

[TnAndy]

is there similar for turkey and geese?

I'd guess you can use it for larger birds.....probably just take another minute or so. Worse case, you might have to reach in and manually flip them around a couple times. The bottom plate in it rotates and kind of 'throws' the chickens around inside so the side fingers (which are fixed) grabs the feathers.

Pic of the bottom plate with plucking fingers:

I've run two 7-8lb chickens at a time in it. I used a 3/4hp motor because it's what I had laying around. Seems adequate for chickens.

I ordered the bottom plate (pre-drilled for fingers), the large bottom pulley, the 'axle' shaft, bearings, and fingers from the WhizBang guy online. I had a barrel, motor, wood for the frame, etc.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Thanks for sharing TnAndy.

Processing meat is not a glorious job, but cutting your own meat should be a huge plus.

There are a handful of beef processors (Tyson is one of them) that process the majority of big grocery store beef.

I know for a fact that some of them have switched to Bromine to use as a rinse/bactericide after the carcus has been gutted, skinned, and hung. They do this to kill all the germs prior to processing.

Market prices of cattle at auction are nowhere near what is being charged at the meat counter.


How much should the processor charge? I guess the price of freezer paper and tape are exorbitant.

Why has Covid 19 hit the meat packers so hard?

 

[LouNY]

If you check Craigslist and or Facebook Market place you should be able to find local beef for your area.
Around here you have several methods of purchasing depending on if you want a whole cow, a half, or boxes of meat (often 25# boxes)

A local place in my area;
Freezer Beef for Sale | Marchaland Farms | Order Meat

 

[TnAndy]

Andy . . . our lockers look very similar, just have some elk also.

Cooler isn't hard to build, as I'm sure you know.....foam board with 4x8 white fiberglass panels on the inside to make it easy to hose down. I found used cooler door on Craig's List. The refrigeration is a 15,000 BTU 120v window AC with a CoolBot controller that makes the AC continue to run (most will shut off around mid 60's temp) and will take the room on down to 34-35 degrees.

Just beginning to reintroduce elk here.....never had one, but understand they are pretty good !

 

[TnAndy]

Thanks for sharing TnAndy.

Processing meat is not a glorious job, but cutting your own meat should be a huge plus.

Not something I'd want to do day in, day out.....but I actually enjoy it few times/yr. Real sense of satisfaction putting up a quality animal you've raised.

How much should the processor charge? I guess the price of freezer paper and tape are exorbitant.

Last I knew of, here, they were getting 50-60 cents/lb and most were vaccum packing

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I've buttered cows, pigs and other farm animals, also more than 20 moose, numerous caribou, Dall sheep ect.. oooh, and an untold amount of deer, it isn't hard, it just takes time...

Anymore I pretty much just take my deer to a place that really does a GREAT job and I do get my own deer back...

SR

 

[Molalla1]

I'd guess you can use it for larger birds.....probably just take another minute or so. Worse case, you might have to reach in and manually flip them around a couple times. The bottom plate in it rotates and kind of 'throws' the chickens around inside so the side fingers (which are fixed) grabs the feathers.

Pic of the bottom plate with plucking fingers:

I've run two 7-8lb chickens at a time in it. I used a 3/4hp motor because it's what I had laying around. Seems adequate for chickens.

I ordered the bottom plate (pre-drilled for fingers), the large bottom pulley, the 'axle' shaft, bearings, and fingers from the WhizBang guy online. I had a barrel, motor, wood for the frame, etc.

:thumbsup: . . . ye old chicken plucker . . . .

 

[Molalla1]

Cooler isn't hard to build, as I'm sure you know.....foam board with 4x8 white fiberglass panels on the inside to make it easy to hose down. I found used cooler door on Craig's List. The refrigeration is a 15,000 BTU 120v window AC with a CoolBot controller that makes the AC continue to run (most will shut off around mid 60's temp) and will take the room on down to 34-35 degrees.

Just beginning to reintroduce elk here.....never had one, but understand they are pretty good !

Yes to all, a nice seasoned elk is heaven.