100% Grassfed and Finished Beef
Holistically managed to provide nutritious and great tasting beef for Florida families.
Holistically managed to provide nutritious and great tasting beef for Florida families.
About the Cows and Land:
Located in Alachua County and managed by a lifelong Florida Cracker farmer who has a passionate interest in healthy living and nutrition. The cows are born and raised on the farm, living in a family herd. No fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides are used on the land. The cows are fed no grains. No pharmaceuticals or dewormers are used on the cattle. The only things provided to the cows beyond what nature provides are mineral licks, spring country well water and in the most dormant months of winter, hay cut from the farm and seasonal planted forages such as winter rye grass and clover. All of this is possible because the cows have been selected over generations for vibrant health and growth on natural forages, natural fly and parasite resistance and great tasting beef.
How to get Beef:
We sell whole, half and split shares of beef that are custom cut and packaged for you. We only butcher cows during the growing season to maintain great flavor and tenderness. A Beef Share list is maintained throughout the year. As we have cows ready for butcher (typically April through December), the next customers in line on the list are notified by text message that it is their turn for beef and provided an estimated pick up date and cost. The customer can then choose to take that cow share or pass and be notified next time cows are ready. Email freezercow@gmail.com to be added to the waiting list.
Beef is $5.00/lb of hanging weight at the processor.
The typical cost of a whole cow is $2,000 and can be paid by cash, check, paypal, venmo or zelle within 7 days of your cow going to the processor. On a whole cow, you will also have approximately $400 in processing fees paid to the processor when you pick up your beef. This typical cow would be expected to yield approximately 300 lbs of cut and packaged frozen beef.
Beef is processed by a small local butcher who will discuss with you how you want your beef cut. The beef is kept at proper temperatures during aging and in storage. Our hanging beef is not washed with GMO based acids like the beef in grocery stores.
A cut instruction form for your completion, more detailed pick up instructions and exact price will be provided to you when your cow is delivered to the processor. You may also contact the processor to discuss your cuts or other special instructions. Pick up of beef is from the butcher in Lake Butler, FL. It is a long drive for many of our customers in the Jacksonville area (slightly over an hour) but it is a nice drive of country roads through scenic areas and it is worth the drive for a dependable and trustworthy butcher who respects our animals and the process of providing healthy, safe and delicious beef.
A 10 cu ft freezer is needed for a typical whole cow. I once put half a cow in a standard side by side kitchen freezer but it filled it up.
Half cows are also $5.00/lb of hanging weight and also include equitable processing fees. If you need less than a half cow, we can help facilitate you sharing a half with another customer, but you and the other customer will be responsible for dividing the beef.
Sometimes beef is available for sale by the lb for pick up at the farm. If you wish to purchase by the lb or tour the farm, please email freezercow@gmail.com for availability.
Here is a breakdown from a larger than average whole cow (most of our current cows are weighing between 300-400lbs):
Hanging weight 480lbs @ $5.00/lb to the farmer $2,400 for the cow.
For slaughter, cut, package and freeze to processor: $580 for a total of $2,980 paid.
The cow yielded a total weight of 324.5lbs of standard cuts and ground beef. Price per lb of actual cuts worked out to $9.18.
There was also heart, tongue, 2 packages of ox tail, 8 packages of liver and 6 packages of bones.
The standard cuts received were:
90 – 1 to 1.5lb packages of Ground Beef
12 – Sirloin Steaks
51 – T-Bone and Ribeye Steaks
1 – Package of Pinwheel Steaks
24 – Roasts
30 – Cubed Steaks
35 – 1 to 1.5lb packages of Stew Meat
8 – Packages of Short Ribs
These cuts were chosen by this customer. You can choose more or less of these cuts or different cuts entirely. Any cut can be ground beef, a roast or steaks.
Why we do this:
Most cattle in the United States are born on family farms but then sold at auction prior to butcher size and shipped to large feed lots in the midwest to be fattened on grain and other feed products and then shipped to meat packing plants and then on to food distributors and grocery stores. This system is not good for the cows, the Earth or for our health. We don't wish to participate in this system as either beef producers or consumers. We want to live more harmoniously with nature and the animals that provide our sustenance. We also want to eat a diet that is rich in health boosting Omega 3 fats and nutrient rich protein. We also find great joy in sharing these benefits with your family.
Frequently moving cows to new pastures simulates natural grazing. This type of grazing allows the pasture grasses to regrow and interrupts the cycles of parasites, preventing the need for deworming chemicals. Nutrients left by the cows and their grazing actions provide nourishment and stimulation for soil biology, preventing the need for chemical fertilizers. A variety of fresh forages for the cows makes nutrient dense great tasting beef.
Contact: freezercow@gmail.com or text/call 904-476-1401