JACKSON, Mich — To save money on beef, some Jackson neighbors are buying the cows — or at least parts of them.
- They say ordering part of an animal from a local farmer can mean savings...and health benefits.
- Jackson County cattle farmer Lorene Adams says you can buy a quarter or more of an animal and get an assortment of cuts for about $7.50 per pound.
Some of my Jackson neighbors say they've found a way to beat the rising cost of beef: instead of buying the meat, they're buying the cow.
SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING:
"I feel like it's a lot cheaper," says Veronica Baker.
Baker's parents raise cattle. So, for her and family friends, it's simple: you pay for a steer or a portion of one. Once grown, it's butchered, and you get a variety of meat for one basic price per pound.
"I know it's like at least two dollars cheaper…and they're getting a whole cow, which fills their freezer even maybe two freezers for, you know, a couple of years," says Baker.
An added benefit of knowing the local farmer, says Baker: "We know, you know, what's in it, so I feel like it's healthier than the stores."
Owner of Sand Hill Farms Lorene Adams says she's seeing more such requests lately.
"I'm getting lots and lots of calls — people wanting to buy halves and quarters," says Adams.
She says it's as much about health consciousness as economics — and that she currently has more requests than she can accommodate.
So what are the savings?
Well, Adams says once processing fees are counted, the price comes to about $7.50 per pound.
"You may be paying a little bit more for the ground beef," says Adams, "but you're paying a whole lot less for your prime steaks."
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