Have you ever wondered where the beef you buy at the grocery store comes from? With large supply chains and processing facilities, it can be hard to trace your beef back to an individual farm or ranch. However, there is a growing movement of ranchers selling beef directly to consumers. This allows customers to know exactly where their beef was raised.
Why Buy Beef Directly from Ranchers?
There are several benefits to purchasing beef directly from the ranch where it was raised
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Traceability: You can ask questions directly to the rancher and know details about how the cattle were raised. This includes feed sources, use of hormones/antibiotics, etc.
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Support local farmers: Money goes straight to the ranch family instead of supply chain middlemen. This supports small family farms in your community.
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Flavor Many people feel grass-fed and pasture-raised beef has more complex, robust flavor. Cattle finished on grass develop intramuscular fat that adds taste
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Humane handling: Knowing the farmer gives confidence animals were treated ethically and humanely during their lives.
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Sustainability: Small farms frequently use regenerative grazing practices that can sequester carbon and improve soil health.
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Nutrition: Some studies have found grass-fed beef contains higher levels of antioxidants like vitamin E and beta-carotene.
Where are Beef Cattle Raised in the U.S.?
While there are beef cattle ranches spread across all 50 states, some regions of the country are particularly dense cattle country:
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Plains States: Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska have the highest cattle inventory numbers driven by large-scale feedlot and stocker operations.
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Corn Belt: States like Iowa and Illinois finish large numbers of cattle in feedlots due to abundant corn supplies.
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Western States: Open rangelands in states like Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado allow extensive grazing for cow-calf production.
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Southeast: Humid states including Kentucky, Tennessee, and Florida have conditions well-suited for raising cattle.
So beef can come from just about anywhere in the U.S.! But to find beef from your specific home region, you’ll have to look at local ranchers.
Buying Beef Direct from the Rancher
Purchasing a quarter, half, or whole beef directly from a rancher is becoming more popular. Here are some tips on buying local beef:
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Check online farm listings: Many states have directories to help connect consumers with farms. Resources like Eatwild.com list grass-fed beef producers.
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Visit farmers markets: Chat with ranchers face-to-face and get details about their beef programs. Some may sell individual cuts.
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Look for buy/sell groups: Search for local food and farm Facebook groups to find beef sellers in your region. These facilitate connections.
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Contact extension offices: Your county’s extension service may have lists of local meat producers or resources to find them.
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Look for signs: Keep an eye out for ads at feed stores, fair booths, etc. Ranchers often promote direct beef sales.
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Join a CSA: Some ranches offer beef “CSAs” where you purchase a share of the harvest upfront and receive cuts throughout the year.
Once you find a ranch, have a conversation about their practices, schedule a visit, and get ready to fill your freezer with locally raised beef!
Direct Beef Buying Options and Pricing
When you buy beef directly from the rancher, there are a few purchasing options:
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Quarters: Half of a side of beef, typically 40-60 lbs. Good option for smaller households.
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Halves: Both sides of the beef split in two, 80-120 lbs. Feeds larger families for months.
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Whole: An entire beef,160-240+ lbs. Buy with friends or get complete variety of cuts.
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Boxed assortments: Pre-selected combo boxes with an assortment of steaks, roasts, and ground beef.
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Individual cuts: Some ranches sell cuts individually at farmers markets or as add-ons to bulk purchases.
Expect to pay $3-6 per pound hanging weight. Actual take-home weight is around 60% due to removal of bones and fat. Grass-fed is typically slightly higher than grain-finished beef. Do price comparisons to find a ranch with competitive pricing.
Key Questions to Ask Your Rancher
When you find a ranch selling beef directly, here are some important questions to ask:
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What breed(s) of cattle do you raise? Different breeds haveunique traits.
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Do you use hormones or subtherapeutic antibiotics? Many consumers want to avoid these.
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What do your cattle eat? Grass, hay, grain? Cattle diet influences flavor and texture.
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How are the cattle humanely handled and harvested? Look for care and low stress.
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Can I visit your ranch? Seeing the operation firsthand builds trust.
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Where is your meat processed? USDA facilities ensure safety and quality.
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What is your availability? Get on a notification list so you get first pick of beef.
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Do you ship orders? Or require pickup? Understand all logistics.
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What is your cutting protocol? Ensure you understand how the carcass is broken down.
Don’t be shy asking questions to the rancher. A good beef producer will be happy to share information with you!
Tips for Cooking and Storing Your Beef
Once you pick up your beef, proper storage and cooking is key:
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Use within 3-4 days or freeze additional time. Freeze steaks/chops separately in meal size portions.
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Let meat rest 30 minutes before freezing if possible. This prevents freeze burn.
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Wrap roasts and ground beef in freezer paper, squeeze out air, and seal. This prevents freezer burn over months.
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Use an instant read thermometer and don’t overcook. Grass-fed beef can cook faster. Medium rare at 135°F is optimal.
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Sear steaks first in a hot pan and finish in oven. This gives a nice crust without overcooking the middle.
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Slow cook roasts and stew meat at lower temperatures for optimum tenderness. Add moisture like broth.
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For ground beef, reduce cook temp and don’t overmix for burgers. Keep meat tender.
With proper storage and cooking, your local grass-fed or grain-finished beef will stay delicious for many meals. Enjoy knowing exactly which ranch your beef calls home!
Ranchers Home Beef from Winn Dixie Has No Home in My Home 
FAQ
Where does good ranchers beef come from?
Where does Winn Dixie source their meat?
Where does most beef in the US come from?
Where does the meat in grocery stores come from?
Where does Good Ranchers source their meat from?
Good Ranchers sources 100% of their meat from American farmers and ranchers. With us, you’ll always get America’s best meat sourced from real farms here on US soil. Good Ranchers started in 2018 from the Spell family’s search for food they could trust.
Are ranchers building their own beef processing plants?
Just four companies dominate about 85% of the beef processing market. That means higher prices for consumers and lower returns for the people raising the animals. So some ranchers and cattle feeders are organizing to build their own processing plants. Harvest Public Media’s Elizabeth Rembert reports on a rancher-led meatpacking project in Nebraska.
What is Good Ranchers?
Good Ranchers is a company that started in 2018 from the Spell family’s search for food they could trust*. Good Ranchers wants to fill your fridge with the best food*, and equip you with the information you need to make good food decisions.
Should you buy meat from a rancher?
There are several advantages to buying meat directly from a rancher. It tastes better and is healthier than the meat you buy in the grocery store, which might be imported from other countries.