What, When & Where
We process animals once a year, at 24-30 months of age, during the month of September after the animals have been feeding on fresh green grass the entire summer. We believe that this age and time produces the best quality meat. All of our animals are processed at a USDA inspection plant.
Our bison are processed at 2 years of age. They do not weigh in the 1000-1200# range of grain fed animals or 3 years or older so-called "grass-fed animals". Our bison are generally in the 750-850 pound range live weight with a hanging hot weight (HHW) of 400-450# or about 56% of live weight. Take-home weight is usually 55% of carcass weight or 246#. I am using conservative numbers but you can count on 30% of live weight to take home. This is a common issue communicating unrealistic expectations. We want to under promise and over deliver! Quantity is replaced with Quality.
We decide on how many animals will be offered for sale each year during the month of July and will send notices through our newsletter. To sign up for notices, subscribe to our newsletter or email us at info@harlanfarms.com.
Of course, you can purchase an animal at any time and have it processed at any location you choose, there are several options.
Feel free to Contact Us for additional information.
Our Bison Meat is a Healthy Choice
All of our animals are pasture-raised, grass-fed and grass finished without any antibiotics or hormones.
Why buy in bulk?
Bulk bison meat is available in the form of a whole or one-half portions by advanced special order. By arrangements, special bulk packages may also be arranged. The benefits to buying in bulk include:
Access
Having a half or full portion of bison in your freezer makes it easy to decide what's for dinner. You have a huge choice of healthy meat options just a few feet away from your kitchen.
Variety
You have a choice in how your meat is cut and processed. You can decide on the thickness of your steaks and whether you want your roasts to be small, medium or large in size. Additionally, soup bones, tongue and organ meats (heart, liver, etc.) are part of the bison carcass and are included in a bulk purchase.
Lower Cost
If you are interested in a variety of cuts, buying in bulk is the most economical option.
Some people hesitate to buy bulk bison because they think it will be too much meat. If a full or half a bison seems like too much, consider splitting it with family or friends.
We offer several approaches and opportunities to purchase bulk bison including:
1. Purchase a Market-Ready Live Bison
Easiest, most cost efficient and convenient method of buying bulk bison meat. You come to the farm, purchase a 24-30 month old market ready animal, and we transport it to the processing plant of your choosing at no cost (up to 50 miles; $5/loaded mile thereafter). You get to choose when, where, and how it gets processed. All you need to do is pick up the meat from the processor.
Being 100% grass-fed, we generally process our animals once a year, in September, after they have been feeding on fresh green grass all summer. Although you can have your animal processed any time, September is our recommendation. Our market ready animals (24-30 month old bulls) currently sell for $4,000, which does not include processing. To comply with Federal regulations, your animals must be paid in full before it can be transported for processing.
Since this is your animal, you can have anything you want including organs, hides, skulls, hoofs, etc. Reservations and deposits are generally accepted in July of each year. We require a 50% deposit on all whole animal purchases. Because we generally have more demand than animals available, it is best to purchase your animal early.
2. Purchase a Young Bison
If unable or unwilling to purchase a market ready bison or full carcass, we offer the ability to purchase a young calf or yearling and have us raise it for you. Many of our animals are sold this way. It gives the buyer (owner) complete control over their animal - it is a simple absentee-owner arrangement. This arrangement works as follows:
1. Purchase a young bison at calf or yearling for $3,000
2. Pay a monthly maintenance fee of $100 per month for its care (It costs $3 per day to raise bison and this was before the current inflation rate)
3. We will provide complete care of your animal, including but not limited to feed and veterinary services
4. When the animal is at market weight, or any time designated by you, we will transport the animal to the processing plant for you
5. You instruct the processing plant how you want your animal processed and you pick up the meat when ready
3.Purchase a Half Carcass
If purchasing half a bison (carcass), we just have a carcass split in half with one half going to you but we must sell the other half too! We have made this happen previously. You will not, however, be able to dictate how your half of the animal will be processed; it will be processed based on our standard methods. The cost of a 1/2 bison carcass is $2,800 plus 1/2 the processing costs.
Alternately, as before, consider splitting a whole animal or carcass with a neighbor, relative, or friend - this is the most economical approach.
4. Buying a quarter
Harlan Farms does not sell quarters.
The simple reason is you cannot really cut a quarter (differences between hind and front quarters).
