Why can’t Texans drive over to these ranchers and select their choice of cow, have it euthanized and loaded into the car. A predetermined butcher would gut it, take off the hide and hang it for two weeks to age it. Then, cut and wrap half. The butcher would get the other half for his labor and the customer would get the wrapped half.
It is happening in rural NC— friends tell me. Pay the grower in cash, no shipping.
You can do that. I admit, it is hard to find a good butcher but you can cut it up yourself. It would be nice to have a walk-in freezer but you can put it in several freezers. Don’t try to put a bunch in one freezer because it might burn up the motor trying to freeze 100s of pounds at once.
I would be quite happy to pick out a live steer, shoot it, field dress it, take it home, and butcher it myself. I just need to pick up a couple of good sized chest freezers to put in my garage.
Why cant Texans drive over to these ranchers and select their choice of cow, have it euthanized and loaded into the car. A predetermined butcher would gut it, take off the hide and hang it for two weeks to age it. Then, cut and wrap half. The butcher would get the other half for his labor and the customer would get the wrapped half.
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That is indeed happening within communities especially after our chain grocers(HEB, Kroger) had shortages about 4 weeks ago. Feed stores became the “pickup location” for locals to pick up their meat and egg purchases. This is in south Texas but unless those in the OP’s story are totally detached from the local community, they should also be able to move product directly.