1/4 cow to butcher!

[cmdan]

Hi all,
a friend of mine bought a 1/2 of a holstine, and decided he didn't need that much meat, so I bought 1/2 of his half (about 230 lbs with bone). That gives me 1/4 cow. I'm looking for suggestions on what cuts of meat to tell the butcher/packer. I'm not up on the different cuts. I know I can use hamburger, but what other cuts should I get.

Thanks for taking time to read my post.

[patriotchick]

I would ask your butchers opinion. Instead of getting beef ribs for example, we had it ground into hamburger....I dont like beef ribs and they usually get fed to the dogs. I did the same with my pork, had it ground into sausage instead of getting the ribs. We usually get rib eye, t-bone, sirloin, top round, london broil and then of course the hamburger and stew meat. I get a few roasts as well. Like I said though just get your butchers recommendation, he will know. I would just tell him your not familar with the different cuts.

[danville]

Is your 1/4 th 230 lbs or is the 1/2 230 lbs? Was it a steer or an old cow? These things would make a bidg difference to me in how I had it cut for my use.

[cmdan]

I got just over 150 lbs of meat from a 3 year old Holstein. Just had a roast and it was tender and good. :P

The guy who got the other 1/4 said he has some steaks and they were tender and good.

First time I have had our freezer full. Looks good.

We let the butcher cut it up, how he saw fit, since he knows more about it than us. He also supplies meats to a local grocery store. He has been in the business for 40 some years and seemed like a real nice guy. I'm happy with what we got.

Thanks all.

[MooseToo]

actually, you'd probably be better off butchering the whole thing - the other 3/4 will never recover -

[cmdan]

I guess I'll just let it limp around ;D

[Cheryl]

LOL, we will take that 3/4 of a cow. not to waste it, lol, no we order a 1/4 cow every 6 months from our local butcher and it fills our freezer. So much better than the grocery store.

[swampyankee]

Has anyone one of you estimated how much money your saving by doing this? Just out of curiousity.

[Cheryl]

I've ordered a half a pig before, but the butcher was less than helpful...rather impatient with me because I didn't know what was what. And I think I got shorted because we ended up with less than 80lbs of meat from a HUGE pig.

We are not using him lol. It's a Mennonite family that is butchering this one. I know it will be about $100 for the butchering. I don't know how big the cow is, I do know about hanging weight. It's a steer, that much I do know. My mom got a heifer recently and her take after butchering was 275lbs. Altogether for the cost of the cow and the butchering it was $440. Coming to $1.60/lb ...not bad considering she got ribeyes, filet mignon, etc. A little pricey for ground beef...but at least I know what's in it lol. Buying ground beef at the grocery store always makes me queasy. Damn 'fast food nation' book