Quote: ana kozlowsky

Even if I get somebody to help me get it here, how do we cut it up? Can't hack it to bits with my cleaver on the patio? In full view of the jogging public?

Oh I think THIS has enormous potential!!! Just picture it... "I TOLD you NEVER to leave the toilet seat up again!!" WHACK! "I TOLD you NEVER drink out of the milk carton" WHACK!!

 Quote: Ana Kozlowsky

Even if I get somebody to help me get it here, how do we cut it up? Can't hack it to bits with my cleaver on the patio? In full view of the jogging public?

I use two meat hooks hanging from a wall in my garage, a sabre saw from Sears, a garbage can (for guts), a hack saw, a ronco knife, a step stool because I'm short, and a band saw to do my own butchering. It's amazing what goats and sheep go for if you're willing to butcher yourself. Inspected livestock auctions are a fount of great resources, the last bull calf I purchased was a hereford/holstein cross that weighed 200 lbs for $32. It was a heck of a drive but a heck of a deal on dog food. While it may not be USDA prime for people it certainly was more than prime for dog chow.

Anyway, via youtube there are lots of ways to help you in how to cut up a critter into more manageable pieces. Small Goats or large rabbits are a great way to learn to dress and split a carcass.

It seems this butchering thing might be easier in the winter when the meat is at least partially frozen so it would cut nicely with the saws.

I don't live in close by many farm animals so Im not lucky that way. I do have a truck tho and could easily go to an auction...but how to you kill the poor thing? I could easily slice n dice once he had perished but not do the killing. :-/

Before I switched over, I had been feeding my dog various types of mid-upper end grain free kibble and I did the math on it...if I can keep my average price under $.67/lb, I am saving money on raw.

I can't imagine with those allergy dogs that you could do kibble cheaper than raw as long as the raw is planned out. A freezer is a must, keep an eye out in the paper and on craigslist. Even if they are old, they last forever and you can upgrade to a more energy efficient model when you are able. My local craigslist almost always has an ad from a raw feeder saying "if you have any unwanted and or freezer burned meat, I will gladly take it for my dogs who are on a special diet due to medical reasons" I'd guess she must be getting some response or she wouldn't keep posting it.

It sounds like you live in the boonies. Id def talk to farmers and hunters and try and get in with a restaurant supply order. I get beef kidney from mine for $.69/lb vs $1.99/lb if you buy it in the store. I rarely buy from the store shelf, too expensive. A local store did have a sale on leg 1/4s a few weeks ago for $.35/lb and I got as many as I had room for in my freezer at the time. I normally get backs for $.32/lb from the rest supply but my dog has been working pretty hard lately and I figured he could use the extra fat in the 1/4s. I don't buy veggies for him anymore, he just gets anything that gets old/leftover from us. I put it in the freezer and from time to time take it all out and put it all in the food processor and then back into containers to store in freezer. I used to live by a ton of Amish farmers....I sure wish I still lived there now!

If you do live in the boonies...what about raising some rabbits and chicks for them? They are easy to kill and can simply be fed whole. I have also read of people feeding guinea pigs. One lady on a forum got 3 pigs in the winter and she didn't even bother to butcher/store them. She put them in the back yard and let the dogs in that area to eat for x time per day.

You just have to plan ahead, think outside the box and be prepared for any incredible deals when you do stumble upon them. I recently missed out on a GREAT deal on tripe because I had JUST filled my freezer...I could have cried! LOL

Good luck in whatever path you choose.