How to Buy Grass-Fed Beef Inexpensively

A wider variety of cattle breeds is available from farmers who raise grass-fed beef.

Grass-fed beef is usually more humanely raised, as the animals are allowed to roam freely, with less stress to the animals than those in in confinement. Herd size is usually a few dozen animals, rather than the thousands of animals in some CAFO -- Confined Animal Feedlot Operation -- settings. There are health benefits to grass-fed beef too, as the meat can have two to six times more Omega-3s than grain-fed meat. It is more expensive to raise cattle humanely and healthfully on their natural diet of fresh grass, but there are ways to save money when buying grass-fed beef.

Instructions

1. Buy local. Grass-fed beef is available through mail-order from several resources on the Internet. But you will pay for it. Not only with shipping costs, but their markup is usually more. Find a local farmer through your farmer's market, Localharvest.org or Eatwild.com.

2. Power is in numbers. Join a coop. There are often coop groups that split a cow or several cows and are able to enjoy the savings of buying in bulk. You may have to ask around to find a coop, but keep asking the farmers you contact about their beef and you are bound to find one.

3. Shop around. Don't settle on the first farmer you find. Prices can vary widely so look at all your options and compare the prices and their farming practices before deciding who to purchase from.

4. Be flexible in your expectations. Completely grass-fed and grass-finished is considered the best, but some farmers use some grass and some grain and the price should reflect that.

5. Opt for grass-fed buffalo. Grass-fed buffalo compares equally in health to grass-fed beef and has a sweeter taste. It is not quite as popular as beef so the prices are often lower.

6. Seek out lower-cost cuts. Ask your farmer about less popular cuts of beef. Rib-eye steak is more in demand than liver, but liver contains valuable nutrients like choline. Bones simmered for several hours make broth rich in minerals and gelatin. Find out if you can get a cheap price on nutritious parts the farmer has a hard time getting rid of.

7. Get a cookbook specializing in methods for cooking this type of food, such as Tender Grass-Fed Meat, so you can make the most of your investment. Grass-fed beef responds differently to cooking than does grain-fed, and you can waste this premium product if you use inappropriate methods to prepare it.

References

• Local Harvest
• Eat Wild
• Tender Grass-Fed Meat: Tender Grass-Fed Beef