Rafter S Freezer Beef

The industry pricing standard is to use the “hanging weight” to determine the price. The “hanging weight” is the weight of the beef after the hide, head and some organs have been removed. The actual meat you will receive is typically 60% +/- of the hanging weight.)

 

Example: For a 1,000 pound steer, the hanging weight should be 600 pounds, and the processed weight should be around 360 pounds. That means a quarter of beef after processing will normally weigh 80 to 90 pounds, and a half will weigh 160 to 180 pounds.

 

Our price is $4.50/lb. hanging weight. The price we quote you includes the beef, USDA inspection, processor’s fee, and sales tax. Our pricing method allows full transparency and ensures you get exactly what you paid for. Considering the quality of beef and the great price, there’s no better way to buy beef!

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There are a few things to consider when buying from your local farmer:

What’s the difference in grain-fed and grass-fed beef?  Grain-fed beef tends to have whiter colored fat and typically has more marbling. The marbling is responsible for a lot of the flavor and tenderness of beef and is used when grading quality. Grass-fed beef typically has a more yellow-colored fat and is leaner with less overall marbling and fat.

Many people have a personal preference for the flavor of either grain or grass-fed beef. Give both a try and see which you prefer! In addition to appearance and flavor, there are some nutritional differences between the two types of beef. Grass-fed beef tends to be lower in calories since it has less fat. It has also been shown to have higher levels of Omega 3 fatty acids compared to grain-fed beef which has many health benefits. Choosing either grain or grass-fed beef comes down to personal preference for taste and ideals. Regardless of your choice in grain or grass fed, beef is a healthy and safe component of any diet. Beef is high in protein as well as vitamins and minerals such as iron, zinc, and B12.

If you are looking for lean beef, find a rancher who only feeds grass and hay to their herd. For those looking for more marbling in their beef, search for farms feeding corn or another food source to their herd. There is a large market for both categories of beef, so do your research on the farm’s feed program prior to purchasing.  We can do both here at Rafter S.  You’ll need to specify what you desire when you pay your deposit for a quarter or half beef.    We will do our best to accommodate your needs, provided we can find another customer who wants the same thing as you. 

The age of the animal will directly affect the tenderness of the beef. Ask the farmer for the age of the animal when it goes to processing. Around two to 2 1/2 years old is a good age to process. At that point they are relatively young but have had enough time to pack on some weight. The younger animals may be more tender, but they haven’t put on much weight yet. Some farmers send their “cull cows” to the processor. The reasons could vary from a cow getting injured to a mama cow not producing calves. The beef from older cows will not be as tender. For those of you who have with negative experiences buying bulk beef, there’s a good chance you were duped into buying a cull cow.

Is this quality beef? When buying a quarter beef or more, the current law states that you don’t have to complete the USDA inspection. Although it’s an option at most processing plants, some farmers may not get the USDA inspection because it costs extra money, plus it’s not required when selling beef in bulk. We feel much safer knowing the meat we eat and sell has been inspected by the USDA. If you buy a quarter, half or whole beef and you don’t care if it’s USDA inspected, we can save you some money at the processor.  It’s your choice!  Just let us know when you pay your deposit.   

If you purchase beef at a farmer’s market, look for the USDA stamp on the packaging. To sell individual cuts to the public, the law says each cut must be inspected. When you see the USDA stamp, you can eat your beef with confidence that it passed the USDA inspection at the time it was processed.

We’ve all seen the commercials touting “Happy Cows” and there’s something to that.   In 2019, Wendy’s and Tyson Foods began requiring all their meat suppliers to be certified in a program emphasizing the most humane ways to raise cattle, according to media reports and industry officials. Stress matters not simply because less is better than more for all creatures, but because stress in cows, particularly right before they’re slaughtered, means the meat may not pass inspection.  The Beef Quality Assurance Program is a nationally coordinated program implemented in each state to build trust and confidence in the beef industry. The goal of the Arkansas BQA Program is to encourage the consistent production of high-quality cattle in our state. 

How does BQA improve Arkansas beef?

Arkansas BQA programming focuses on educating and training beef producers and veterinarians on the issues in cattle food safety and quality.  Instruction is based on information gained by the National Cattlemen's Association and includes common sense management techniques along with accepted scientific knowledge on how to raise cattle under optimum herd health management and handling conditions.

The Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification is a voluntary national program that our team takes advantage of.  Our goal is to provide you with a quality product.  Our Rafter S Freezer Beef team is BQA certified to better serve our customers who want to know where their meat comes from and how it is handled. Our goal is to produce a safe and wholesome product for your family. 

Hopefully this will help you to buy bulk beef with more confidence.  Finding the right farm that will walk you through the process and answer your questions is key. You’ll eventually develop trust with your supplier.  The hope is that both sides of the deal feel great about the relationship and continue working together for many years.

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