Where do you like to buy your raw meats?

[Waffles]

Hello!I was just wondering where you all get your raw meat from. Do you get it from local butchers or maybe online, if so what website?The only places around me are Costco, Safeway, and Walmart. My EM only eats chicken (plus the bones and liver) since we started just a few months ago. I'd like to start adding variety now.Any tips on money saving when buying raw?Thanks!

 

[NYDDB]

I buy locally, as well as from here: Hare Today Gone Tomorrow (they are in PA.) Hare Today has things like green tripe which is difficult to source elsewhere, and a lot of other items which help round out a well-balanced, raw food diet. There are also raw-food co-ops around; I would join one, but don't own a car; pick-up in my area is about 3 hours from me. Also, I would definitely begin adding in other protein sources now- a few weeks on chicken is all you really need for a transition... Good luck on your search (I would do a search for sources, co-ops, etc. in your general area.)

 

[angelbears]

I buy almost all our meat from the grocery store. To be fair, I'm in Houston, prices seem to run a little cheaper here. Most of our meat is bought out of the discount bin. Safeway is really good about reducing to 50% meat that is going out of date that day. You have to be there early. I hit mine at 7 am. Watch adds for deals. Pork ribs will go on sale for under 2.00 a pound. Thanksgiving is coming up. Stock up on Turkeys. I usually wait until Thanksgiving day or the day after and get them at .25 to .50 a pound. I don't use much of the turkey for bone-in but even with just deboning it. The cost is less than a dollar a pound. Try to stay away from turkeys that are pumped up with a sodium saline. It will state on the label if it is. I agree with NYDDB, you need to get some variety in the diet asap. Red meat is vital. Pork can be pretty cheap. Don't forget you need organ meat also. 10% of their diet should be organ meat, with liver being no more than 5%. If you have any Asian markets in your area they are great for cheap organs and a great variety.

 

[TricAP]

We do a combination of grocery stores, local butchers (including a couple that do mobile farm slaughter) and a raw purchasing coop that delivers operates in the WA/OR region. You really do need to increase the protein sources - 4 is usually the recommend amount. What area do you live in Waffles? That might help some of the other raw feeders on the Forum in your area help find you some new sources.

 

[Waffles]

Oh Wow, thanks for the tips about Safeway reducing the prices. I had no idea! I will definitely be looking out to do that as soon as possible!! I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, but like a little over an hour south of SF. I don't mind driving around looking for good priced meats, I guess I just have no idea where to start. I do have an asian market that I go to about half hour away from my house. I will have to make a trip there soon for other organs. Is ground beef not good? if its less fat?

 

[angelbears]

I feed ground beef. What ever I can get that fits within my budget. If it is high in fat then mix it with your chicken or something a little leaner. Definitely, try the Asian markets. The ones around here negotiate, I rarely do, I'm just not comfortable doing it but if you are you can get it even cheaper, especially if you buy in bulk.

 

[DennasMom]

I'm in the same coop as TricAP - you can look for one in your area (pretty sure there are good options in the SFO area) on the "CarnivoreFeed-supplier" yahoo group - it's a group that just matches up raw feeders with suppliers. The coop is great for getting variety - whole frozen sardines, ground beef, elk, venison, bison, emu... all sorts of great stuff. My "staples" are sardines, lamb ribs, liver and kidney, ground beef and beef tripe from the coop, then whole pork shoulders from Costco and Pork ribs from Cash & Carry (they sometimes have better prices than Costco). (chicken is currently off the menu due to dirty ear syndrome, aka allergies?) Some people have luck finding free meats on craigslist (hunters cleaning out freezers for this years take), but I haven't gone that route. I am considering getting a whole lamb from a local farm & butcher next spring - and asking for ALL the parts to be included. Us humans would get the choice cuts, and Denna would get the rest. I figure we'd all win that way.

 

[DennasMom]

I'll add another plug for the Asian markets. H-Mart might be in your area. They normally have whole frozen sardines or mackerel for ~$2.50/lb, which is not much more than I pay for them by the case with the coop. They also have lots of beef and pork organs and other "parts" that add good variety.

 

[Waffles]

Ahh Thanks for all the tips! I am super excited to go shopping for meats this weekend haha is that weird? I went to walmart to look for sardines and I was really surprised that one small can was almost $4 ! I was like I definitely need to make a trip to an Asian market.

 

[angelbears]

Not weird at all! I love going "hunting"(shopping for the dogs). By bargain shopping, I have also been able to cut the household shopping budget in half. All but feeding the dogs for free. Learn where the dented can goods are, the produce, ect. Sometimes I go out and only get a couple of things. I have also gone out and found over 50 pounds of hamburger for less than a dollar a pound. I frequently find boneless, skinless chicken breast for .50 a pound. That was for the household. LOLBTW, I have found that produce for the family is cheaper at the Asian market.

 

[TricAP]

Hispanic markets can be a great place for non traditional meats as well. Have fun shopping!

 

[cj-sharpy]

Through asking about I found a place local that buys meat from slaughter house that's deemed not fit for consumption. Mostly it's been out of the fridge a few minutes too long or someone has dropped it.
He does his own minces for rock bottom prices.
Also always ask butchers if they have anything they need rid off or can't sell. Ox liver and heart most butchers will sell for pennies.
I do one weekly trip to food place and can feed Jack for about 2/3 quid a week. Max was costing about 7 quid a week.
We get free bones, hoofs, feet everything I go and once a head for a pound.
If you know a proper butcher that buys whole beasts there's always left overs or freebies to be had. Even if you ask nicely and see if butcher will pick you stuff up from the slaughter house. Never had any but I know the abattoir round here takes care of horses and has to pay to dispose of them. If you are willing to take the meat that lowers their cost so they'll be over the moon.

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[Waffles]

My friends are like "Oh I just did a makeup hall today!" and I'm like "I just did a raw meat hall today!" lol I got some stuff they were marking down at walmart so I picked up some lamb, pork neck bones, and pork picnic (shoulder) and a whole turkey that is only 63cents/lb but honestly I have no idea how to butcher it haha unfortunately the turkey is frozen rock solid so that will take maybe more than a week to defrost. I also went to ranch 99 (asian market) and picked up some beef liver, pork liver, and pork melt (spleen- had to google what melt was!), and I also got a whole 5lb box of frozen sardines for only like $7. Can I feed her other things like brain or snout/ears/hoof (raw) or tongue or does that not really have any nutritional value? How bout uterus ? Also, does it matter that a lot of things I just got are pork based? And How often should I feed her sardines? I read like 2-3 times a week, but is that like one sardine each time? The sardines I have are actually quite large... like 4in long and kinda fat. def not the size of the ones in the can.I fed her her first sardine today and she had no idea what to do with it lol. She put it in her mouth gently and spit it out a few times then took a few tiny nibbles out of it and then finally chomped down on it lol.P.S.I just ordered some new containers that should be arriving today yay! I just wanted to share it with anyone that might be searching for containers because I was putting her food in ziplock freezer bags which saves so much space, but they always seem to be punctured and by the time they defrost they leak and I its just a nightmare. I ordered these in the 38oz hopefully that is big enough for now lol, but this seemed like the best price seriously I did sooo much searching for the best price and quality and I think this one is pretty damn good. Amazon.com: 50set 32oz White Square Food Takeout Storage Container with Lids: Kitchen Dining

 

[Waffles]

(oh damn, does pressing enter not work? sorry its all smooshed together!)

 

[JamieHalverson]

I only supplement with raw, my dogs' main diet is kibble. But I buy from a local raw food distribution company. They take orders, then deliver everything to one location and you just go pick it up yourself. People volunteer their property (home or whatever) for the pickup. It works great! I usually get smelt, a meat grind, ground tripe, duck/chicken feet (a hardcore favorite!) and then some fun items like tripe stuffed beef trachea and whatever else sounds good. I don't really know how their prices are, comparitively, but since I only feed raw items 3 days a week, I'm not too concerned. I'd see if there are any raw feeding groups in your area on facebook, that's how I found the place I use. On facebook, I've also seen many people advising of a "freezer dump" and selling stuff or giving it away, or people who have whole rabbits, guinea pigs, etc.

 

[JamieHalverson]

Oh yeah, I have issues with freezer bags, too. I separate everything into portions and freeze in individual bags. Every single chicken or duck feet bag has holes in it...I just put the bags on a plate to defrost and don't worry about the mess.

 

[EverythingEnglishMastiff]

I thought the mess was half the fun??