We are sold out for 2023.
Beef for Sale by the Quarter, Half, or Whole Steer
We sell steers once a year by the quarter, half, or whole steer. They are pastured here at Seven Springs Farm using a rotational grazing system that gives them a fresh lush pasture every day or two. They have eaten only grass (including clovers and a variety of forage plants found in the pasture) supplemented with mineral rich kelp, and have had no drugs of any kind. Purchasing part of a grass fed steer is the most economical, nourishing and sustainable way to consume beef as part of your diet. Ruminant animals have a special relationship with grass. Together they create topsoil, which is the source of most of the nutrients in the food we eat. Cows are ruminants, and grass is their perfect food. Rotational grazing is an attempt to mimic nature by moving the cows to different pastures regularly, as they would in the wild. This improves the health of both the cows and the grass.
The price for 2023 is $4.90 hanging weight. It includes all butchering costs. You will have a chance to choose the cuts you want (steaks, roasts, etc.).
The hanging weight is the whole carcass before it is cut into roasts, steaks, etc. Typically the hanging weight is about 60% 0f the live weight of the steer. The carcass is then cut, packed and frozen, losing another 45-48% of weight in bones and scrap. We have no control over the exact weight of the animal (generally 900-1100 lbs.), or the exact take home weight.
The meat will be processed at Dodson Meat Processing, 3846 Elamsville Rd. Stuart, VA 24171. It will be vacuum packed and frozen, and ready for you to pick up on a Saturday in early December.
Which Section of the Steer Am I Buying?
If you purchase a half steer you will receive either a full left or a full right side of the steer, which includes all of the sections, described in the Butchering Chart.
If you purchase a quarter steer, you are sharing a half of a steer (left or right side) with another member who also purchased a quarter steer. The cuts from both quarters will be taken from all the sections described in the Butchering Chart. When you fill out your order form, you may choose cuts from any or all sections of the steer. We will match your order with another member, giving each member as much as possible from the sections each of you chose. Since the rib and loin sections are usually the most popular you will likely receive half of the cuts in those sections. After all the cuts are made for both members, the remainder will be ground and shared between the two families.