Beef Pork, Chicken Prices - What are you doing?

[JohnyMac]

I know that I spoke to this story a week or so ago however it makes sense bringing it up again and having it's own topic.

So with the cost of protein at your local grocery store, what are you and your family doing to off-set high and climbing protein prices?

Share what you are doing here. Lets keep politics out of this section as we will just be  . Lets help our friends on this forum.

MrsMac and I are gathering neighbors to buy critters on the hoof (Primarily beef and pork) and have them butchered. If 2-3 family's go in together they can take a big bite out of the inflation we are all seeing.

So....What are YOU doing?

[thedigininja]

We have the same problem here.

Living in an apartment I don't much space to play with but I am designing a solar grow box to grow legumes which are high in protein and certain veg like beet and spinach which are high in iron (necessary because I have an iron deficiency).

My family who have a rural homestead are getting tilapia and rabbits (and looking at chickens) to breed.

[JohnyMac]

Great start thedigininja!

May I suggest for your apartment a small top loading freezer like this one. We bought one when we lived in an apartment and it fit well in a closet.

Also, when buying chickens make sure you buy based on what they will be used for, e.g. eggs or meat. There are different kinds for different uses.

[special-k]

Here is an idea.

[JohnyMac]

Works for me! 

Another thing I am going to do is hunt more. Instead of one deer (~100 # dressed) I am going for two. Add to our freezer some other delectable critters like:

> Squirrels,
> Ducks,
> Geese,
> Rabbits,
> Grouse,
> Doves,
> Etc. 


 

[thedigininja]

I've heard that there are different kinds of chickens but never really looked in to it. I just thought use for eggs until they start getting old and gut them. I would be a terrible farmer. At this point my cousin is the member of our group who handles agriculture but I should learn at some point.

Apparently some of the local farmers have been complaining about warthogs/wild pigs destroying their crops so I'm also trying to find out where that is because that is damn good meat.

I also want to mention, for those in more rural areas, that you may want to have a look at goats. They have good milk and meat (tastes a little like wild mutton) and, apparently, they are relatively stress free to raise compared to other livestock.

[brat]

Bacon seed........

[thedigininja]

aah. The magical creature that turns vegetables into bacon.

[Well-Prepared Witch]

aah. The magical creature that turns vegetables into bacon.

Hahaha! Love it.

We're raising chickens.  Our first batch turned 13 weeks old yesterday.  They should start laying in a little over a month or so.  We have seven different breeds to see what does well for us. (Actually, still have six - since we turned out to have THREE roosters when we ordered ONE, I gave away our Salmon Faverolle roo.  Beautiful breed, but far too gentle and fragile a breed for us.  We lost the other chick we ordered due to a genetic issue.)  So far, I'm impressed with the Buff Orpingtons, Black Australorps, Rhode Island Reds, Delawares, and Barred Plymouth Rocks.  The Easter Eggers are pretty, but temperament is very nervous.  I'm holding off final judgment pending a) them laying so I know how well they lay, and b) getting through the hot summer and then the winter so I can see how they handle our conditions.)

We're also going to raise meat birds - probably just a Cornish Rock cross - starting next year.  Those take eight weeks to get to full growth before butchering, so we can raise several batches a year and freeze the excess.  The layer/dual purpose breeds take three times as long to reach maturity.

We're also considering, in the next year or two, adding a dairy cow and raising the calves for meat.  We have ok pasture, though it needs improvement, and wouldn't have to supplement too much, except in winter. 

[JohnyMac]

IMO, RI Reds are great layers and good for meat. They are a good two bird deal. Wellie, don't name the calves or they will not be going anywhere...

[brat]

Wellie, don't name the calves or they will not be going anywhere..

Yeah, an ear tag and give em a number. Even naming them Ribeye and Sirloin personalizes them.

[JohnyMac]

Here are two pictures of our newly arrived "bacon seed."

Three belong to our neighbor up here at the cabin and one belongs to MrsMac and I. We picked them up yesterday about forty-five minutes north of the cabin deep into enemy territory (New York). The two females and two males cost $60- each. I will call the farmer back in 30 days to see if he has any left and if he does try to get one more for a cheaper price before winter sets in.

How are you making out in your preps for the winter?

[Burt Gummer]

Can we name them?

[JohnyMac]

Absolutely! I was thinking of...

Wellie,
APX808,
Special-K, and of course
Burt   

[Burt Gummer]

I bet i'll taste delcious.

[Kentactic]

 

http://youtu.be/fxOXjN2dykg

[Nemo]

I have 3 steers here and they all were named by my sister within a day of receiving them.  T Bone, Sirloin and Pot Roast.

So there was no doubt what they were here for.

Nemo

[JohnyMac]

Love it Nemo! 

Our turkey are named:

> Cranberry
> Gravy
> Dressing , and
> Yup yum. 

[TexasR.N.]

We have been raising chickens for a few years now.  We raise a variety of breeds and as stated above Rhode Island Reds are a good mixed use breed.  We also like Dominickers for this purpose as well.

As far as beef, we got a milk cow and are breeding her with our neighbors Angus bull.  Any resulting calf will be slaughtered and put in the freezer.  We will buy a second calf and put it on the milk cow, wean it off, and slaughter it.  Breed her again, buy another calf and repeat the process over.  We have friends who are ready to pay for half the calf when ready for slaughter.

I have considered getting a couple of hogs but we are going to wait until we see how the entire cow/calf breeding and slaughter process works out.

[JohnyMac]

TXRN, it is all a learning process 

Learn what you can now as you will be putting it to actual use sooner than we think. 

[Well-Prepared Witch]

TXRN - let me know how your cow thing goes.  We're thinking of getting a mini-cow or lowline cow and doing the same, though we won't purchase the second calf.

[sdoon1]

We are raising pigs, you saw the pics from jmac, beef cattle, goats, chickens, ducks, rabbits and just purchased sheep. Our son is a member of 4-H and that is the reason for the sheep. He will show a few next summer and sell them in the 4-H marketplace at our county fair. They fetch a good price and the money will go toward animal feed, hay and doctor's visits, as you need a vetrinarian to check the animals out and issue a clean bill of health to bring them to the fair. Any sheep leftover will go into the freezer. Also, I am planning on learning to spin the wool into yarn. Another skill learned is always a good thing.

As for goats, they are easy keepers and you can make soap with their milk, as well as, drink it.

[thedigininja]

Soap from goat's milk? It makes sense due to it's high fat content but I never considered it a possibility. Thanks for that.

[JohnyMac]

Wellie, check out a Dexter cow/bull. Seems to be the perfect critter for a small operation focused on quality vs. quantity.

Dumpsterdiver recommended it to me. 

[TexasR.N.]

Will do.  We have been told that once the Jersey is producing milk we can expect up to 8 gallons a day off  of her.  So even if we don't have another calf on her we can use the milk for cheese.