Are we better off

[WoolyBear]

Yes it was slaughtered, cut and wrapped at a provincially inspected plant. Some fellows would call us lazy maybe, but at the same time I think that certain jobs are best done by those who know how. Beside if would have meant getting a new blade for the skill saw, and an FAC license if I had done it <grin>

[15444]

Not mine. Shot and hung on the loader of the tractor, as always. Got some help from the guy who did the cutting and wrapping, local fella who worked in the local abattoir before it shut down. $45 bucks to slaughter the animal and about another $100 to cut and wrap. We keep the hide, although it isn't worth anything. Livers usually no good as liver fluke already has done its damage.

Lets it hang for 14 days, 12 days minimum. Probably should have pleaded with him to hang it for 21. Neighbours had a steer hang for 21 days one time. Equaled alot, and I mean ALOT, of trimming, but it's how tenderness should be defined!

[cowman]

15444: Do the same thing except bone the animal out and do the grinding(I have a large commercial grinder from the old days). Takes up a lot less room in the freezer.
One thing I would like to do is add a cooler. Have a guy looking for a reefer trailer...he tells me I should be able to pick up an older one for about $1500.
One other thing I have done is bone the animal hot and age the tougher cuts in a refrigerator out in the shop. Works pretty good but I've never gone beyond 10 days.