Polycarp ”This MEANS the farmers are only 25% less greedy than the supermarkets and its a 275% markup from the farmer to you!”

Actually a 300% markup (making a 400% or gate selling price),discounted by 25% (on that 400%) results in a 400 * 75% = 300% price or 200% markup on the gate price for wholesalers.

That is still a pretty hefty markup but not quite as greedy as you stated.

Who cares?

We should all be eating less meat anyway, for our own health's sake and that of the environment.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/nov/11/food.climatechange

Feedlots are appalling at every level - not just for the poor animals who spend their last days knee deep in their own excreta, but also for those who work at them and anyone who is unfortunate enough to live nearby or downstream.

Dear Pollycarp,
These are actual costs not he said she said.
1 Beast 2 Y O No adult teath 258 kg x $3.30 = $851.40
2 Killing charge $ 85.58
3 Cutting Fee @ 75cents kg $193.50
4 Cartage $ 38.76

TOTAL $1168.84

Equals $4.53 per kg on body weight.
As you don't get 100% recovery when you cut up a body I do not know the recovery price per kg. This price was current yesterday 09-12-2008.

Bugsy... your post (and Pelicans) seems to investigate the issue more than most, so I'll respond to them.

1/ The information about the mark up, came from one of the blokes in the industry, "Gippsland Meats"...it was not a commentator.

2/ The focus of story and the stated aim of the "Farmers" (in their interviewed words) was:

a) Middle men mark up and mock us. .... 200-300% was mentioned.

b) We are offering CHEAPER meat direct from the farm.

So..if.. repeat IF (Pericles) their focus was on 'ORGANIC' meat.. which it wasn't... then one might understand the price. But they simply used the 'grass fed' thing as a marketing device. They STILL maintained that they were giving us a much better deal than the GREEDY supermarkets who were screwing them at the farm and then screwing US at the shop.

Remember Periscope..they are claiming the mark up is on THEIR meat.
I don't see ANY 'organic' meat for sale in Safeways.

CONTEXT...is everything.

Wednesday..today..Safeways

BUDGET RUMP STEAK... $13.99 KG.. succulent.
PORTERHOUSE STEAK....$13.99 KG.. yet to try.

FARMERS.. $15.50 ish/kg.....

now.. one would think that if there is sooooo MUCH to be saved by dealing direct..... it would actually be cheaper from the farm.

Transport costs? Health issues? Of course.. the SAME applies to Safeways....but why are these dunderheads claiming there is a 300% markUP as IF...it was a rip off?

IF...these costs are real AND as big as being assumed by Plecican, then the only reason the Farmers would mention the 'outrageous' markup is a scandalous marketing ploy to market their product at inflated prices. grrrrr

Oi Bugsy.. please don't pick on my maths :) I only just scraped through in Maths II in forth form where the paper was externally set to make us 'think' :)

Poly, the question of the price of meat is a bit like asking,
how long is a piece of string?

There are many grades, many cuts, many marketing methods. I know
a gourmet butcher who claims that a lamb owes him 350$, no matter
what he paid the farmer. As we saw from Rehctub's figures of
1100$ or so per sq metre of rent, overheads play a huge role.

If you are serious about wanting value for money meat, so buy a
small freezer and buy a side of beef or a lamb, often home delivered
at great value for money, from those without the huge rental overheads.

But when it comes to honesty of marketing, the meat industry
are in fact saints, compared to the religious industry. Order
your meat and it turns up on your doorstep, at a higher or lower
price. Compare that to the hundreds of millions of $ sent to
the religious industry, like tele evangelists, the happy clapper
church and similar, what do people get? Nothing, just a promise.

Perhaps the meat industry could learn from the religious, when
it comes to deviant marketing. I will promise to send you all
the "spiritual meat" that you want and of course the lord will
provide, if you keep sending me your money! All you need is
belief. What a great business plan!