Our grass finished whole beef animals are $5.00 per lb. hang weight. Our cattle average about 564 lbs. hang weight. A $1410.00 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve a whole animal. This amount is roughly 50% of the animal purchase.
 
Currently available butcher dates for whole animals are 9/30/24 or 10/10/24.
 
We recommend having 12 to 14 cubic feet of freezer space available for a whole beef.
 
How it works:
Your deposit reserves a whole animal. The deposit is non-refundable and will be credited to the final hang weight balance. On butcher day the butcher will record hang weight and your balance to Happy Critters Farm & Orchard is due at that time. Because you’re purchasing a live animal, the transaction is exempt from sales tax.
 
You will also need to pay the butcher their processing fees when you go to pick up your beef. Current custom butcher fees for a whole beef include a $65.00 kill fee, $20.00 offal disposal, and $0.79 per lb. hang weight for processing. All costs considered, your cost for take-home meat is about $11.90 per lb. If you request sausage or other value add products, they have additional fees. Figures vary slightly from animal to animal but generally speaking, buying a whole is a 23% discount compared to buying the same meat at retail.
 
Understanding live weight, hang weight & take-home weight: Live weight (also called hoof weight) is straight forward. It’s the weight of a live animal. Hang weight (also called carcass weight) is after the entrails, hide, head, and hooves are removed. Expect hang weight to be about 53% of live weight. Take-home weight is the final weight of processed meat. Expect the take-home weight to be about 50% of hang weight. This is due to further removal of bone and trimmings during processing, as well as a small percentage of water weight lost during dry aging.
 
Example: assume a 1000 lb. live weight animal breaks down to about 530 lbs. hang weight and then 265 lbs. of take home meat. Every animal is different and may be more or less.
 
     Note* Your take-home weight also depends on how much of the animal you decide to utilize. If you have cooking ambitions to utilize all the organ meat, suet (for tallow), and bones (for broth), you may request these from the butcher. This will capture more of your animal’s weight and nutritional value. A pet dog may appreciate these treats as well. Specifying 75% or 80% lean ground beef instead of 90% will also net more pounds of flavor and nutrition from the weight of your animal. With grass finished beef, the fat profile is healthy and contains extra vitamins and minerals so don’t feel guilty about capitalizing on the extra flavor and tenderness it offers.
 
We will deliver your animal to the butcher on the scheduled butcher date. The butcher will record live weight, your animal will be humanely dispatched and processed to hang weight. Hang weight will be recorded, and the carcass will then be stored in a chill room to dry age for 14 days. Dry aging helps tenderize and improve meat flavor.
 
            Note* whenever possible we will make arrangements for on farm slaughter of custom processed animals. This means that your animal won’t go through the stress of being loaded on a trailer, hauled down the highway, unloaded at the butcher and shuffled through a sorting pen on the last morning of its life. On farm slaughter is simply a hired service to dispatch the animal where it feels comfortable and at home and is them immediately transported to the butcher to be processed as usual. This is the best possible way to honor the animal on its last day and may improve eating quality of the meat. The theory behind improved meat quality is due to stress hormones that when released into the blood impart an influence of their own into the meat. There’s no time for this to happen when death comes swift without stress.
 
Once your balance with Happy Critters Farm & Orchard is paid in full you may give the butcher your cut sheet instructions. Cut sheet instructions must be completed prior to the 14th day of dry aging. They can explain your options if you need help or want suggestions. If you feel any discomfort with the process, feel free to contact us for assistance.
 
      Please note* that your deposit and animal will be forfeited if the balance due to Happy Critters Farm & Orchard is not paid in full by the cut sheet deadline. This isn’t a good deal for us either so please don’t allow it to happen.
 
When your packaged beef is frozen and ready for pick up the butcher will contact you. You must pick it up from the butcher and pay them their processing fee. We’re currently using Cabool Kountry Meats located in Cabool Missouri.
 
Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions. Thank you for considering Happy Critters Farm & Orchard for your grass fed and finished beef.