Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is grass fed or pastured beef?

A. The short answer is cattle that have been raised on grass and hay to the exclusion of corn and corn by-products. The natural diet of cattle is grass. Cattle are ruminant animals, meaning they have multiple stomachs for digestion, which makes them efficient convertors of grass into nutrients and energy. The term “grass fed”, to an extent, has been hijacked by commercial producers.  The term “grass finished” denotes the diet leading to harvest, but does not necessarily mean corn has not been a part of the animal’s life diet.  Grass fed, finished or pastured at CHAGUANAS RANCH means on pasture and/or hay from birth to harvest – no corn nor corn by-products.

Q. Is the meat inspected?

A. Yes, in  a USDA  inspected facility by a USDA inspector. An inspector is on site at the abattoir or processing plant. The beef is inspected before and after harvest.

 

Q. How long will the beef be aged?

A. The carcass will be aged for ten to fourteen days after harvest.

 

Q. How will the beef look?

A. Grass fed or pastured beef is a darker red than commercially raised beef due to the absence of corn from its diet and slower rate of growth. Our cuts are smaller and may not have the “showcase look”. These beeves are processed one at a time  (carcass meats are not co-mingled) and no picking and choosing among an array of cuts for pretty.  Taste and health are the foremost reasons for purchasing beef raised on it’s natural diet of grass. Expect a leaner, darker, denser, and deeper flavored beef… closer to how things were once upon a time.

 

Q. How much freezer space do I need to store my frozen vacuum packaged purchase?

A. Expect your eighty (80) pounds of frozen beef to be delivered in three book boxes. Allow three (3) cubic feet of freezer space for each eighty (80) pounds of frozen beef. For example, a nine (9) cubic feet freezer will hold approximately two hundred, forty pounds (240). 

 

 Q. How long will vacuum packaged frozen beef maintain its freshness?

 A.  Vacuum packaged frozen beef, kept at 0 or negative 0 degrees will maintain freshness two years and beyond.

 

Q. How many meals may I expect from eighty (80) pounds of beef?

A. It is estimated, a family of four may expect 50 to 60 meals from eighty (80) pounds of beef.  Beef lovers, expect fewer meals!

 

Q. Since grass fed or pastured beef is leaner, do I need to modify how I normally cook beef?

A. Yes,  the greatest culprit to tough beef is overcooking, especially pastured beef.  Since pastured beef is high in protein and lower in fat, coat with olive oil and/or marinade to enhance its moisture content.  Lower the cooking temperature and shorten the cooking time by 30% whether cooking with dry heat or moist heat.  Remove the beef from the source of heat ten degrees from the desired cooked temperature if using a thermometer. Steaks are best cooked rare to medium rare.  If you prefer well done steaks, use a moist cooking method.  Expect fresher tasting, flavorful, healthy, less greasy beef.

 

Q. What are the advantages of purchasing Chaguanas Black Angus grass fed or pastured beef?

 

A. Local. You know where your beef has been raised and by appointment, may pick up your beef on site….same price pickup or delivery.

Closed Herd. Animals are born and raised on ranch premises.

Humanely Treated with a deep regard for their well being and with an inner passion to be good stewards of the land and the animals.

Health.  Studies have shown pastured beef to be more nutritious.  These beeves have not been given growth hormones, nor antibiotics. 

No added cost surprises. Cost includes hauling, USDA inspection, harvesting, dry aging, butchering, vacuum packaging, weighing, labeling, freezing, and delivery within 50 mile radius of Palmetto, Georgia.

Control  from ranch to table.

Quality equals value.

 

Q. Why Beef-In-Bulk?

A. Purchasing Beef-In-Bulk bundles has the advantage of cost averaging quality cuts at a substantial discounted price. Or you may opt, when available only, to purchase 80 pounds of Ground-Beef-In-Bulk.  Families, office mates, friends, and neighbors often “beef-pool” their Beef-In-Bulk purchase. NOTE: Beef-In-Bulk is not always available as we allow the beeves to grow and develop a deeper beef flavor. 

 

 Q. What constitutes a Beef-In-Bulk order?

A. Orders are fulfilled for minimum 80 pound Beef-in-Bulk purchases (cuts and ground beef combos or 80 pounds of ground beef (based on availability only). Product is USDA inspected, stamped US Inspected, and identified individually by cut, and weight.  For Beef-in-Bulk pricing go to PRODUCTS.  Payment due in full upon receipt, check or cash.