Our Beef

LET US TELL YOU ABOUT THE BEEF WE ARE RAISING FOR YOU.

Our steers are purchased from local Pennsylvania farmers at 600 pounds. Until this time, they are raised with their mothers and grass fed. After they arrive at our farm, they are placed back out on grass in our pastures for approximately two weeks to one month. During this time, the steers have access to corn silage and grain. Next, they are transitioned solely to corn silage and grain to finish them off to approximately 1400 pounds of marbled, quality beef. 

The steer feed consists of corn silage, grown corn, and soybeans, along with a variety of trace minerals. We do not feed our steers any animal byproducts, use any antibiotics, or use growth hormones. We deworm the steers after they come off of the grass, much like folks deworm their pets.

AT CHARLES FAMILY FARM, YOU CAN PURCHASE BEEF IN VARIOUS QUANTITIES TO SUIT YOUR FAMILY’S NEEDS.

Approximate *hanging weights:

• Whole steer – 900-1000 lbs
• ¾ Steer – 650-750 lbs 
• ½ – 450-480 lbs
• ¼ – 220-240 lbs
• Beef bundles (ready for pick up upon ordering and payment.)
  • 1/8 – 52-54 lbs.
  • 1/16 – 25 lbs.
  • 1/32 – 13 lbs.

For whole steer, ¾, ½ and ¼ steer options, after your selection is made and a deposit is received, your animal will get delivered to our USDA-inspected butcher shop. The steer gets processed to be dry aged for 10 – 14 days. 

Within a day or two of your animal getting delivered and processed, the butcher will call us with the *hanging weight of your beef (less the hide and trimmings). This is the weight that you will be charged for. Based on this weight, we will send you an invoice for your beef. Current market price is $3.15/lb.

The actual take home weight will be approximately 50% of the hanging weight, depending upon your desired cuts and butchering choices. The butcher shop is going to remove a lot of excess fat and heavy leg bone, which is part of the trimming and deboning process.

WHY AM I TAKING 50% OF THE MEAT HOME?

After you receive your invoice, you will be instructed to call the butcher to go over your desired cuts of meat and options. Allow roughly 15 minutes to complete this call to ensure you get the cuts you want that are available to you in the option you chose. This will ensure your local beef buying experience will be an enjoyable one. 

After the 14 day dry aging process, your beef will get cut, vacuum-packed, and frozen. At this time, your beef is ready for pick up and you will receive a call from the USDA butcher letting you know it’s ready.

BELOW ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF HOW MUCH MEAT IS IN EACH ORDER.

This will provide you with approximately 1 ½ pounds of meat per person every week for a year. Your order will consist of approximately half ground beef and half various steaks and roasts.

• Whole steer – For large families that love beef 2-3 times/week.
• ¾ – For large families that eat beef 1-2 times/week.
• ½ – Ideal for medium sized families (2 adults, 3 children).
• ¼ – Ideal for 1-2 people. 
• Bundles – great starter package for any family size.

Freezer Storage

• Whole steer – 15 cubic feet
• ¾ – 12 cubic feet
• ½ – 8 cubic feet
• ¼ – 4 cubic feet
• Bundles – 2.5 cubic feet

CURRENT MARKET PRICE IS $3.15/lb. X HANGING WEIGHT = YOUR TOTAL COST

The USDA butcher cost is an estimate based on your cutting instructions.
Your order will consist of approximately half ground beef and half various steaks and roasts.

• Whole steer – Approx. 900-1000 lbs. (hanging weight) x 50% = 475 lbs. (take home weight)
  • 950 lbs. X $3.15/lb. = $2,992.50 Your cost payable to Charles Family Farm
  • $902.00 Your cost payable to USDA Butcher
  • $3,894.50 Total Cost
  • $3,894.50/475 lbs. = $8.20/lb. (in your freezer cost)
• ¾ steer – Approx. 650-750 lbs. (hanging weight) x 50% = 350 lbs. (take home weight)
  • 700 lbs. X $3.15/lb. = $2,205.00 Your cost payable to Charles Family Farm
  • $665.00 Your cost payable to USDA Butcher
  • $2,870.00 Total Cost
  • $2,870.00/350 lbs. = $8.20/lb. (in your freezer cost)
• ½ steer – Approx. 450-480 lbs. (hanging weight) x 50% = 232.50 lbs. (take home weight)
  • 465 lbs. X $3.15/lb. = $1,464.75 Your cost payable to Charles Family Farm
  • $441.75 Your cost payable to USDA Butcher
  • $1,906.50 Total Cost
  • $1,906.50/232.50 lbs. = $8.20/lb. (in your freezer cost)
• ¼ steer – Approx. 220-240 lbs.. (hanging weight) x 50% = 115 lbs. (take home weight)
  • 230 lbs. X $3.15/lb. = $724.50 Your cost payable to Charles Family Farm
  • $219 Your cost payable to USDA Butcher
  • $943.50 Total Cost
  • $943.50/115.00 lbs. = $8.20/lb. (in your freezer cost)
• Beef bundles – Butchering costs included in the already-packaged bundles.
  • 1/8 Approx. 52-54 lbs. x $9.95/lb. = $527.35
  • 1/16 Approx. 25 lbs. x $10.95/lb. = $273.75
  • 1/32 Approx. 13 lbs. X $12.95/lb. = $168.35

The reason we call it “custom” butchering is because you get to talk with our butcher shop to inform them on how you want your beef cut up. They will work with you on this process. They will want to know things like how thick to make your steaks, how many pounds of beef in the hamburger packs, large or small roasts etc. You also want to make a decision on the heart, tongue, and liver. Some people do not like these parts and others can not wait to try them. This step of calling the butcher shop with your cutting instructions happens while the beef is in the cooler being “dry aged”. Our butcher shops understand that many folks are unfamiliar with this step. Feel free to ask questions.

We think Black Angus steers yield more and taste better.  Black Angus cows and bulls were bred to produce a lot of meat as opposed to a Holstein cow, which was bred to produce lots of milk.  The first great herds of Angus beef cattle in America were built up by purchasing stock directly from Scotland. Twelve hundred cattle alone were imported, mostly to the Midwest, in a period of explosive growth between 1878 and 1883. Over the next quarter of a century these early owners, in turn, helped start other herds by breeding, showing, and selling their registered stock.  Black Angus steers tend to provide superior quality when it comes to tenderness and taste.

Visit this page for more information on the great health benefits of beef: health benefits.

Ready to order? Order today with our quick order form. We’ll call you and work you through the entire process.

List of Butchers:

Smucker’s

Mt Joy, PA

Martin’s

New Holland, PA