How to buy Beef Guide

 Buying  a side of beef can be an economical way of filling your freezer with  premium beef  but the process  can be extremely confusing for the first time customer.  Below is a  brief outline of the steps, how it works and what you can expect. We offer beef by the side once a year in October, at the end of the grazing season.

Determine your needs.  The first thing you need to do if you are thinking of buying a cow is to determine how much beef you feel your family will consume in an average year. Yes, a year! At Geiger Farm we only send cows to butcher once a year, in October; therefore, you need to have a good estimate. We suggest that you start by figuring about how many pounds of beef you buy a month on average (ground beef, grilling steaks, roast) and multiply that by 12. This will be a good estimate for the first year and you can adjust up or down next year. Now that you have your number of pounds lets look at how to translate that to 'How much do I order, a whole or a side?

How much to order. Before you can calculate how much beef is right for your family, you will need a brief understanding of beef weights and yields. Beef weight and yield is perhaps the most confusing of all the steps in buying your beef, because the weight of beef changes during different stages of processing. 

Beef Weights:

• Live weight (also known as "on the hoof") - Refers to just what is says, the live weight of the animal before processing.  We do not use this measurement.
• On the Rail (also known as "hanging weight") - This term refers to the weight of the beef as it hangs post slaughter once the head, hide, feet, organs and blood are removed. This IS the measurement Geiger Farm uses.
• The Cut and Wrap Yield (also known as "package weight") - refers to the actual weight of all the packages you will put into your freezer. The yield will depend on the types of cuts you select for your side. The yield can vary, but a good average for percent cut-ability it 65%.​

             Every cow is different and yields can vary, but some general guides are :

• Rail weight of a typical whole Geiger Farm cow is 600-800 pounds.
• Cut & Wrap yield of a typical whole Geiger Farm cow is 390-520 lb of packaged beef in your freezer.
• A family of 4 or more usually orders a half.
  

Spring Ordering.  Beef  must be reserved by April of the butcher year. Beef is available by  the whole cow or half cow (also called a "side" of beef ). However, we  may be able arrange 1/4 buyers together to create a "side" order.  It should be said that a 1/4 of beef will not nessacarliy give you everything you want as you will be splitting cuttings with another customer, this option is best used when you know the other party.  We  will need your name, address, email,  phone number and a commitment for a  whole or side of beef.  You can email jack at jack@geigerfarm.com  or Deborah at deborah@geigerfarm.com or call Deborah at 913.367.7005.  We are happy to talk with you and answer any question you have.

The 2024 Rail price is $3.25 per pound.​

Research.  Do a little research ahead of time, educate yourself on cuts of beef.and take notes on your families eating style.   Before interfacing with the butcher/processor to provide your cutting  instructions, you will want to know what cuts you like and what you do  not care for.  Think of the ways you normally eat beef.  

• Is your family a 'sit down" steak and potatoes type family?
• Do you use beef as an ingredient, like in stir-fry or casseroles?
• Do you prepare large meals with the intention of having leftovers
• Do you use ground beef frequently, and how many pounds at a time?
• How often do you cook a roast?
• Do you want soup bones? interested in receiving any of the offal or variety meats (beef, liver, heart, or tongue)?
• How thick do you like your steaks? Stew meat?  
• Think of quantities you would like your beef packaged in, 1 lb., 1 1/2 lb., 5 lbs?

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Freezer Space.  Time  to prepare a place for your beef.  A good rule of thumb is 1 cubic foot  of freezer space for every 35-40 pounds of cut and wrapped meat.  If  you choose meat with no bones, like hamburger, then this may require  more space as the packages will be oddly shaped.  Beef has a freezer  life of about 1 year, after that the flavor starts to diminish

Butcher Day.  Around the last week of October, Jack and I will load up your cow and take it to Bern Meat Plant  for slaughter.  Once the cow has been slaughtered, it will hang to age  for 14-21 days.  During this time Nancy from Bern Meat Plant will call  you for your cut and wrap instructions.  You will give her:  your name,  phone, name of your farmer, & size of your beef (whole or half).  Nancy  will walk you through the process of how you would like your beef cut.   She is very experienced and helpful, feel free to ask her questions and  let her know if this is your first time with cutting instructions.  

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Payment.  Once  your beef is slaughtered, Bern Meat will call us with the rail weight  of your cow.  We will invoice you.  Payment to Jack Geiger, 2020 Raccoon  Road, Robinson, Kansas 66532, must be received before you pick up your  beef at Bern,  You will also pay Bern Meat Plant directly at pick up  for processing, plan on .52 cents per pound for cut & wrap and a $48.00 slaughter fee.   

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Pick Up your Beef.  Once  you pay the butcher (take a check book, most do not take debit cards),  they will wheel out your beef on carts and help you fill your car.  You  will not need ice to keep the meat cold.  It comes out of the freezer at  sub zero and will keep itself cold for the ride home.  Remember to  leave a steak out when you get home to celebrate! :)

Thawing Your Beef.   Many first time customers are also weekly shoppers, and so most meats  are already thawed or fresh.  The best way to thaw meat is to plan what  you are having for meals the coming week and place those cuts into the  fridge for a couple of days.  A quick method is to take off the butchers  paper and wrap, place in a zip lock bag in a bowl of hot water,  changing the water as necessary.  This should thaw most meats in about  30 minutes.  I do not recommend using a microwave for thawing.

Next Year. We sell our beef on a first come first served basis with preference for returning customers.  New customers are more than welcome to contact us at any time of the year.  Be aware that you will be put on a waiting list, this does not guarantee you beef, it ensures your place in the cue.

​We  strive to provide only the best, expect only the best and work for only  the best.  We are especially sensitive to families with young children  and believe that working to provide your children, and ours, with  wholesome  food is one of our primary missions.  

-Jack & Deborah Geiger