Raw costs vs pet food question

[Kimbersmama]

I really want to start feeding raw. We go through roughly 7.5lbs of dog food a day. It costs is $14 a day to feed 3 dogs. What should I expect price wise and how much should I be willing to pay for meat per lb? I don't want to underestimate. I have 2 growing mastiffs and a 65lb lab. Where should I look for the best deals?

 

[musicdeb]

It depends on how much you plan to feed each pup. Generally, each pup should get 2-3% of their expected weight. For a rough estimate, figure you're going to pay about $2.99-$3.25 per lb for the meat.

 

[Kimbersmama]

Okay. That's not bad. I'm trying to reach the rancher that we buy beef off of. Maybe he'll give me a good price on the extras that get thrown out!

 

[ruthcatrin]

I'm on my ipad and don't have links, but if you have that prey model getting started link still they list co-ops for raw feeders for buying in bulk. I can get most of what I feed my two for $2.50 or less a pound that way.

 

[musicdeb]

Okay. That's not bad. I'm trying to reach the rancher that we buy beef off of. Maybe he'll give me a good price on the extras that get thrown out!

I'm jealous!

 

[Kimbersmama]

I just requested to join the co-op info groups. We shall see how this goes! Thanks. Can I feed them goats and rabbits?

I'm not quite sure what extras they have. I just left him a message asking for an 1/8 of beef, bones on the side. Lol he may think I'm nuts!

 

[ruthcatrin]

You can feed goat and rabbit. If theres any doubts a to meat quality, or if the rabbits are wild caught freeze solid for at least a week (2weeks for wild pork)

 

[KimT]

If you shoot the rabbits or any wild game make sure you check the meat for lead slugs,dont want to give puppy lead poisoning. If you fish make sure you split the belly to make sure there is no swallowed hooks.

 

[tojvan]

It depends on how much you plan to feed each pup. Generally, each pup should get 2-3% of their expected weight. For a rough estimate, figure you're going to pay about $2.99-$3.25 per lb for the meat.

Damn that's expensive I pay about $1.30 lol

 

[Kahuna]

Whole Chicken $1/lb
Organs, chicken feet and pork picnic around $1.75/lb
Beef chunks & Tripe $2/lb

 

[tojvan]

Whole Chicken $1/lb
Organs, chicken feet and pork picnic around $1.75/lb
Beef chunks & Tripe $2/lb

That sounds about right!

 

[musicdeb]

Damn that's expensive I pay about $1.30 lol

I estimated high for a guesstimate.

 

[DennasMom]

All depends on your location and what you can feed.
Chicken is cheapest (~$1/lb here in Seattle Metro area) - but we can't feed that due to allergies
Pork is next at ~$1.50/lb
Beef ~$2.80/lb
Parts (liver, kidney, feet, etc) ~$2/lb

I can get bulk fish (whole sardines) from our buyer's co-op for $1.80/lb (after S&H fees)
Cheapest item ever was "beef rib ends" from the co-op at $0.88/lb - but they're mostly bone and fat with a little bit-o-meat.

If I stick with grocery store pork and beef, I can average right at $2/lb.
When I add in all the extras and exotics I get from the co-op for variety (venison, rabbit, emu, lamb, etc.) I get closer to $2.50/lb average.

I could get the price down if I worked at it - lots of people get free "freezer clean out" specials from ads on craigslist or freecycle. Or if you know a hunter, get their scraps and old stuff.
We did just get a 1/8 cow for us to eat on this year (grass fed, direct from rancher, not cheap, but TASTY) - they threw in the liver, lung, cheeks and tongue for free. 28lbs of "free" stuff!

Denna's down to 1.6% of her expected adult body weight for consumption (~21lbs/week), and even that is too much during weeks when we don't get out and exercise enough. Still... I figure it's about double the cost of feeding a top quality kibble.
But I still think it's worth it.

 

[tojvan]

All depends on your location and what you can feed.
Chicken is cheapest (~$1/lb here in Seattle Metro area) - but we can't feed that due to allergies
Pork is next at ~$1.50/lb
Beef ~$2.80/lb
Parts (liver, kidney, feet, etc) ~$2/lb

I can get bulk fish (whole sardines) from our buyer's co-op for $1.80/lb (after S&H fees)
Cheapest item ever was "beef rib ends" from the co-op at $0.88/lb - but they're mostly bone and fat with a little bit-o-meat.

If I stick with grocery store pork and beef, I can average right at $2/lb.
When I add in all the extras and exotics I get from the co-op for variety (venison, rabbit, emu, lamb, etc.) I get closer to $2.50/lb average.

I could get the price down if I worked at it - lots of people get free "freezer clean out" specials from ads on craigslist or freecycle. Or if you know a hunter, get their scraps and old stuff.
We did just get a 1/8 cow for us to eat on this year (grass fed, direct from rancher, not cheap, but TASTY) - they threw in the liver, lung, cheeks and tongue for free. 28lbs of "free" stuff!

Denna's down to 1.6% of her expected adult body weight for consumption (~21lbs/week), and even that is too much during weeks when we don't get out and exercise enough. Still... I figure it's about double the cost of feeding a top quality kibble.
But I still think it's worth it.

seriously your dogs allergic to chicken i thought that was only in dog foods since it was processed. That suck since you could be saving so much money if chicken wasn't an issue.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Raw allergies aren't as common. It does happen occasionally though. Arty still has some mild issues with it, though I think his is more of an intolerance than a true allergy. As a puppy ANY poultry (including chicken, turkey, duck, goose) would give him HORRIBLE NASTY diarrhea. He's mostly out grown it, but if he does get to much poultry in a "short" span of time he'll get the runs :/

 

[tojvan]

Raw allergies aren't as common. It does happen occasionally though. Arty still has some mild issues with it, though I think his is more of an intolerance than a true allergy. As a puppy ANY poultry (including chicken, turkey, duck, goose) would give him HORRIBLE NASTY diarrhea. He's mostly out grown it, but if he does get to much poultry in a "short" span of time he'll get the runs :/

allergies are pretty weird apparently you can gain or loose them every 4 years since your body replaces your old cells with new ones.

 

[angelbears]

I'm in Texas where it seems prices are cheaper but I think Florida is pretty close to our prices. A freezer is a most to do it cheaply. We have a wholesaler in town and if I just use them I can keep my prices to an average of a 1.00 a pound.

However, I have started getting most of my meat at the grocery store. I pay about .25 cents more a pound but I have found that my grocery bill has gone down by more than 50% for us. So, actually it is cheaper for me this way.

Watch weekly ads. At least once a month you can find:

Whole chickens .77
Pork roast(usually bone in) .79 to .99

Every 2 to 3 months:

Beef brisket .99 to 1.49
Pork ribs .99 to 1.49

Every day prices:

Chicken hearts. .89
Chicken quarters .59

Thanksgiving I stock up on Turkeys. .29 to .59

Every Sat. and Sun. I hit 3 stores by the house and check the discount bins. I did get to go this morning and got chicken livers for .79 and Turkey necks for 1.09. Last week I got gizzards for .79. One store that I go to packages up their mix and match pork cuts for 1.49 a pound. We like a very thin pork chop, they usually run about 4.00 but these packages are about half thin chops and then just chunks or ribs. We keep the good cuts for us and the dogs get the rest.

Asian markets are great for pork organs and duck. Pork organs are usually less than .50 and duck heads and feet are .99

 

[musicdeb]

AB, I'm so jealous of your meat prices. We do not have those kind of prices here in the Dallas area.

 

[Strait]

Those prices seem extremely high! What quantity are yall buying? My average cost is about $0.60/lb, and with hunting season starting it will drop. Hopefully it will drop significantly, ie i shoot a lot of deer! Here is what i'm paying.

Chicken backs $.30/lb 40lb/case
Chicken leg quarters $.60/lb 40lb/case
Beef Heart $.89/lb 60lb/case
Beef Liver $.85/lb 60lb/case
Beef kidneys $.49/lb 60lb/case

From the latin grocery store i can get:
chicken leg quarters or drumsticks for $.69/lb
beef necks for $.89/lb
pigs feet $.79/lb

Find out who your local beef and chicken distributors are and set up a cash account.

 

[angelbears]

The problem I found with buying wholesale is you have to fill your freezer with things that you don't feed that often. Like 60lbs of liver, it should only be 5% of their diet.