A Whole Lot of Meat

Depending on the size of the animal and which animal you choose, you are going to end up with anywhere from 40 pounds/18 kilograms of meat to more, much more. A whole, or even half, a grass-fed steer is a very large amount of meat. In most cases, it is far more than one family can eat or store—about 700 pounds’/317 kilograms’ worth. So I recommend that you plan ahead when you set out to purchase a whole carcass or even large primal cuts. In fact, you may want to start with a primal (say, on a steer, one of the forequarters; or on a lamb, the saddle section). After you are comfortable with the art of breaking down a primal cut, you will be ready to move on to a whole lamb or pig, or half a steer. In any event, be sure to plan how you will store the meat before you begin sharpening your knife.