Cooperative Beef Buying Opportunity

Current Beef Cooperative Buy

Email us if you are interested in future buys. We will put you on a list - once the list is sufficiently full, we will attempt to arrange a new cooperative buy.

Prices

Prices for beef buys have typically been around $120 for 1/16th cow. With increasing costs for the producers, we should expect an increase in the coming year. A typical 1/16th portion might include 5 steak packages, 2 roasts and 14 ground beef packages (1.3 lb each) plus other items depending on the processing. Some items, such as ribs, are limited and would be given to persons buying larger portions.

While there is some disadvantage in receiving some cuts that you are less interested in, the overall savings can be substantial - and you support a local producer who uses sustainable methods.

Beef Producers

Burns Angus Farms

David Burns raises grass-fed beef in the Lawler, Iowa area. Burns Angus is a well known supplier of sustainably raised beef in the area. David uses organic methods and was certified organic at one time. Unfortunately, there are no lockers any closer than Cannon Falls, MN that support certification, which precludes his certifying the product. Animals are treated humanely and we highly recommend his products. Roots Market in Cedar Falls also buys from Burns Angus Farms.

Preparing Grass Fed Beef

Grass-fed beef is typically much leaner and should be cooked at lower temperatures for longer periods of time. David even suggests that you begin cooking hamburger while it is still frozen in the middle (or put an iced cube in with it). We have gotten fine results by simply being more patient and not expecting immediately cooked beef! Grass-fed beef can taste a bit different than corn-fed - depending on the health of the grazing fields - so be prepared for some taste difference.

Grass Fed Beef and Your Health

Meat from grass-fed cows typically have higher levels of Omega-3 fatty acids (which come from leaves of plants) vs Omega-6 (from seeds). Omega-6 fatty acids help beef cattle to achieve higher weights faster, hence the main reason for grain-fed beef. However, faster rates of growth do not necessarily provide us with meat that is better for us. In fact, bovines are built to digest grasses as a bulk of their diet, rather than grains. As a result, grain fed beef usually require doses of antibiotics to handle problems brought about by this diet.

You will also find that meat from grass-fed animals will contain more Conjugated Linoleic Acid, a substance that promotes lean muscle mass in humans - encouraging the body to burn fat for fuel.

Craig Claussing Farm

Craig Claussing lives just north of Waverly, Iowa and might be best known to people in our CSA as the producer who provided local beef for the Den at Wartburg College as an alternative to the 'mystery meat (so called only because I doubt anyone could trace where it came from).

No Hormones and Combination Grass/Grain Fed

The Claussings pasture their animals when weather allows and do not inject the animals with hormones. Craig is convinced that hormone injection has a potential to cause health problems in humans and has converted his operation from conventional methods. While their cattle is not exclusively grass-fed, there is a definite difference in the quality of the beef due to a diet that is provided balance by times spent in pasture.

The animals at their Waverly farm are treated well and are given excellent facilities. The meat from their animals is typically leaner than what you would find at the grocery store and require more patience when cooking. You will find that the taste of the Claussing's beef is superior to most cuts you will find at the store.

Fall 2007 Grassfed Beef Cooperative Buy

Fall 2006 Beef Cooperative Buy II

Fall 2006 Beef Cooperative Buy I

Sping 2006 Beef Cooperative Buy

Spring 2005 Beef Cooperative Buy