Beef Cuts Question

[65284]

We have buyers for all of our freezer beef sides except one. Several folks would like to buy beef but can't afford or don't have freezer space for a half. So, I am thinking about selling it in 25# beef packs I could easily move it in the smaller weights.

I would like for the packs to reflect the same % of cuts that are contained in a side, I need to know approximately what percentages of a side are hamburger/steak/roasts.

This doesn't have to be exact but about how many # each of hamburger, steak, and roast should be in each 25# pack?

I’m aware there isn’t an exact answer, that trim and processing will have to be accounted for, and will further vary from one animal to another; I’m looking for approximate percentages.

[Jalopy]

My $.02 worth is if you harvest a 1000# beef you will get approximately 600-630# of bone in beef. Of that about 30-40 lbs will be the top cut steaks such as from the loin area(t-Bone, Porterhouse, Ribeye) Then another 40-50 lbs of round and sirloin steaks. Then you will get 90-110 lbs of rump roasts and sirloin roasts Then you could get arm or chuck roasts but many people have those cut and ground as ground beef. Using this as a guide and using any questionable steak and roast cuts as ground beef I would say about 60% ground beef and 20% each of roasts and steaks. That will really get some high quality cuts into the ground beef but it will also assure that only the high quality cuts of steak and roasts are provided. On a 25# package that gives 15# of ground beef and 5# each of steaks and roasts. That will fit a lot of lifestyles today because if the steaks are 8 ounces that would be 10 steaks and 2-2.5 lb roasts and hamburger for quick meals, the grill, or soups and stews. Please realize that if you have 60% made into burger that your actual yield will go fgrom 630# down to closer to 400# due to the amount of shrink from bone and fat loss trimming. Therefore a 1000# beef that would sell for $1000 would now be 400# of beeef worth $1000 so it now would have to earn you $2.50 per pound plus processing and delivery to make you the same amount of money. But that is realistic if you consider high quality steaks are worth $6-$7 a pound and they are getting 5 pounds. Good luck I think this is a good idea but it will take some coordination to get it all sold and delivered.

[65284]

Thanks Jalopy, that's exactly the information I was looking for. I wasn't sure about how much of what I needed to put into each 25 # package.

I have buyers at $4.50 per pound for as much as I have to sell. That may seem a little cheap but these beeves were calved here, raised and fattened on grass so I don't have a whole lot in them.

We have been selling pork packages and it has worked very well. I pick up the meat from the processor, assemble and weight the packages and deliver. I intend to work the beef the same way. I'm retired so I have plenty of time.