How to Buy Grass-Fed Beef Inexpensively

Grass-fed beef is usually more humanely raised, being allowed to roam freely and causing less stress to the animals than if they were in confinement. There are health benefits to grass-fed beef too including being lower in fat and containing two to six times more Omega-3s than grain fed meat. It is more expensive to raise cattle humanely and healthfully, but there are ways to save money when buying grass-fed beef.

Difficulty: Easy

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 the best health-wise, 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.

Resources

• Local Harvest
• Eat Wild

[Catnipp333]

on 8/19/2009 Good details on How to Buy Grass-Fed Beef Inexpensively. 5*s - RRR

[chrisanimelo444]

on 8/17/2009 Very informative! Thanks for the advice. :)