Butchering, Processing and Dry-Aging
Raising the Animal
Whether grass fed and/or grain fed we never supplement our beef with any growth hormones and we only use non-GMO grains. Should you have any questions about the date you will receive your whole/half cow, we are always available to provide you with updates.
Harvesting and Processing the Animal
We harvest our animals at 18 to 20 months of age, when they weigh 1000 to 1100 pounds.
We process our animals when we feel they have gained adequate weight. Weight gain and fat gain can be affected by climate and the amount of green grass/hay available. During longer hot seasons, the cattle do not eat as much and gain less. This can extend the amount of time to get your whole/half cow ready.
With your beef purchase, we custom process the animal on our local ranch. Your meat will be hung and dry-aged for a minimum of 14 days to allow natural enzymes to tenderize and enhance the flavor.
Live Weight v.s. Hanging Weight v.s. Cut Weight
The live weight is obviously the weight of the live animal.
The hanging weight is the weight after the blood, hide and inedible parts are removed. The hanging weight is 59%-62% of the live weight.
The cut weight is the weight of the actual meat after it is dry aged for a minimum of 14 days. The cut weight is 10% less than the hanging weight due to water evaporation during aging, saw cuts, and removal of ligaments, tendons and gristle.