where can i buy reasonably priced higher welfare meat?

mardatha

I got told Costco meat comes from the Borders here, he said the name of the farm but I forgot it Ask one of the butchers instore when you see them filling up the meat.

cooking-mama

Thanks again Guys..I got a reply from farmer Michael from Damn Delicious as follows.

""Hello ......

I can understand your concern however it’s the other way round!!!!!!! Cattle prefer to be outside in all conditions being housed is a completely unnatural environment for them. Being housed is like being in a meeting that goes on for too long where all you want to do is rush over and open a window to get fresh air. Our animals are outside all year round and do go off into the woods if the weather gets really bad but it’s their choice! You would be surprised how many mornings when I go out to them that you would expect them to be in the woods taking shelter but they are out in the fresh air happily lying chewing their cud. Many housed animals, organic and conventional, suffer from respiratory diseases. I have some housed cattle as well that we sell on the open market and comparing them with ones out side I am convinced the free range ones are miles happier. Most c housed for the convenience of the farmer and so that they can get them fatter quicker. I know my cattle are happy cattle !!!!!!!!!

Kind Regards
Michael"

Free range cows,...just what im looking for.. ,after reading this reply im thinking the cows have a more natural life this way and so im gonna try the £79.99 beef variety pack http://www.damndelicious.co.uk/products/boxes ,
thanks for everyones help with this one.:)

liam8282

^ Yes but he would say that wouldn't he?! He is sellling you his product!

Why does beef that doesn't incur extra food costs or housing costs, cost more? Yes they take longer to get to weight, but there are no extra costs to get them to weight. Why isn't this offset?

mardatha

That's what I wonder too, I cant afford this kind of meat . However re cows being outside, I'm up in a cold windy area and cattle here stay outside all year round. I dont know that for sure because I dont live on a farm, but at my daughter's farm they do and I see the same black hairy shapes wandering about the same fields all the time so they must be

liam8282

^ Some would say that is animal cruelty, leaving the animals out in all weather with no food or shelter, others say it is animal (food) welfare.

I am not trying to be pedantic here either!

mardatha

Cows are meant to be outside ! so are sheep surely ! as well as wabbits, hares, foxes, deer, and all the wee wild things. Is only humans, dogs and puddytats who live indoors Cows in my back field get brought food 2 twice a day.

heretolearn_2

I wouldn't want anything to live out in winter without any access to shelter - but a decent hedge or bit of woodland is good for that. It doesn't need to be a man-made thing. All the wee wild things and animals ranging widely (like welsh mountain sheep) will find plenty of shelter when they need it. Putting animals out to winter in bare paddocks with no shelter would be cruelty.

cooking-mama

Thanks again guys..quite an emotive subject isnt it,
im happy with his reply,and there are some extra costs involved,as in winter the farmer provides,kale/hay and silage.Also(dunno why,)but Aberdeen Angus is generaly more expensive anyway,even in Costco where ive been buying our meat the Aberdeen Angus is more expensive than the usual Scotch beef)
I honestly thought all cows were outside in summer and brought "indoors" in winter,i was shocked to discover that some "supermarket" cows are never in a field,i assumed all cows seen outside were beef cows(turns out they are mainly dairy),also the idea of them being brought indoors isnt quite so comforting when i discovered that they are often in bare stalls with concrete floors...makes a sheltered wooded area with grass etc to lie on sound more comforting..I think the only way i could completely clear my conscience would be to "go veggie"..im not ready for that!,I cant afford fully organic(tho i have started with milk and a veggie box),so this will be my compromise.
There was an article in the daily record last week regarding meat in Britain,(mainly pork)it was basicaly trying to encourage people to by localy(and organicaly)if affordable,but they mentioned the very misleading labeling on food packaging,apparantly meat only has to be processed in britain for it to be labeled british!,the animals could have been reared and slaughtered in ANY EU country(some of which are still using cruel farming methods outlawed in britain 16years ago.

"quality meat scotland,state clearer labeling is required as bacon can be labeled British even if the meat is from the EU.,as long as itis processed here,so consumers may think the product on the supermarket shelves is British because it is labeled in this way,but as long as it has been turned into bacon by a company in Britain the pigs can be from anywhere"
Dunno if the above statement can be applied to beef/lamb etc or not,but its quite concerning...everday's a school day right enough.;)

happy35

I have been looking at Riverford Organics and their meat looks to be reasonably priced as do their veg boxes

i am going to start buying from there as this would avoid the dreaded supermarket shop

cooking-mama

moonpixiewitch wrote: »

support local producers at scottish farmers markets

For organic meat by mail order try here:

http://www.laverstokepark.co.uk/

wild meat from scotland here

http://www.blackface.co.uk/


HTH

Happy35,have a look at these links posted by moonpixiewitch...unfortunately the laverstock organic one is too expensive for me,but the blackface site looks good,different breed of cattle but raised in similar circumstances to the damn delicious cows,im now trying to decide what one to try first(tho must admit im not a fan of game or lamb,mutton),so would probably only order beef+possibly pork from Blackface)..oh decisions decisions...at least its narrowed down to 2 choices.;)