Grass-Fed, Grass-Finished Irish Dexter Beef

Grass-fed, grass-finished Dexter beef by hanging weight.

Deposit Only. Final cost is $6/lb hanging weight (paid to Firefly Homestead) + processing fees (paid to the butcher shop).

Important note about the steer due for processing in October 2026: This steer is several months older than most steers we send to the butcher. He was originally intended to be kept as a bull, but we chose to steer him instead because of fertility issues. We opted to grow him out a full year after steering him in order to avoid any potential affects of the bull hormones on the meat. We plan to add a portion of his meat to our own family freezers, and look forward to the same tender, marbled steaks we have enjoyed from younger steers. However, strict federal rules require butchers to discard the back bones of any adult bovine slaughtered. For this reason, the butcher may be unable to provide bone-in cuts involving the vertebrae (t-bone and porterhouse), but could instead offer boneless cuts of the same meat (New York strip & filet).

Description

Grass-fed, grass-finished Dexter beef

Irish Dexters are a small dual-purpose heritage breed — efficient on pasture and known for well-marbled beef that fits a household freezer. Ours is grass-fed and grass-finished.

How to buy a share

Pick a processing date and a size. Beef is sold as quarter, half, or whole shares. The amount you pay today is a deposit ($250 quarter, $500 half, $1,000 whole) and is applied to the final cost of the meat. If you back out, the deposit is forfeited.

The process

We take the animal to Keller Meats (3739 Avon Lake Rd, Litchfield OH 44253, 330-722-4501).
Keller calls you for your cut sheet — steak thickness, roasts, ground, sausage, smoked cuts, and so on. If you are new to custom butchering, we can talk you through your options in advance. Just reach out.
After harvest we invoice you for the full cost of the meat, minus your deposit, which is due within 1 business day.
You pay Keller separately for processing (slaughter, cutting, wrapping, plus any curing, smoking, or patties you choose) and pick up there when they call. Meat is frozen unless you ask otherwise; bring coolers.

Hanging weight and yield

Hanging weight is the carcass after slaughter, before it is cut. Dexters are smaller than commercial cattle. We typically see hanging weights for a full share in the 450-600 lbs range, but this can vary.

Boxed meat weighs less after bone and trim; typically around 60-70% of hanging weight depending on how you have it cut. Ask for bones, fat, and organs if you want them.

Additional information

Processing date	October 2026
Share size	Quarter, Half, Whole