A new butcher less delays.

We bought our cattle with the idea of insuring the meat we dish up was raised as ethically as possible, unfortunately due to so many set backs of trying for 6 months to get the Holsteins sent off to the butcher, we returned from NSW to find the paddocks dry and feed prices skyrocketing, with the quality of available feed significantly deteriorating.

Hard choices in hard times.

Watching the steers eat poor-quality feed and their condition steadily decline, we decided to find a different butcher. We called around and found a local butcher who could book one of the steers within a fortnight. We chose to send off the smaller of the Holsteins, who had suffered from bullying by the other steers and the poor-quality feed. To improve his condition before butchering, we bought some molasses and gave him treats every day.

Off with the steer

On butcher day, we loaded him up and delivered him to the abattoir. The emotions of that day were mixed; there was a sad respect for the process of raising an animal for consumption. While we understood the benefits of eating home-raised meat, it was still an emotional challenge.

The smallest of the Holsteins was put down, cleaned, and hung. We collected the salted hide and delivered it to the tanner. After nine days, the butcher called with the results. Given his weight loss and smaller size, we expected the meat to be tough and the yield low. So, we decided to mince the whole carcass and split it 50/50 between minced beef and sausages.

Yield

This yielded 84 kilos of meat and about 55 kilos of bones. To put this into perspective, we aimed for 120-150 kilos of meat from the larger Holstein in peak condition and 100 kilos from the smaller one.

While 84 kilos isn’t dreadful, it was disappointing compared to their weight in March. One of the main reasons we raise our own meat animals is to ensure they have a decent life. Knowing that one of our animals lost so much condition under our care was hard to accept, especially when we were spending $600-$800 a week to keep them well-fed.

If you would like to view some videos from around our property head here.
If you would like to read more about our homestead head here.