At Stetson Ranches, we hand select the calves we choose to be in our packaged beef program from our main cattle herds. From inception to finish,
it takes our family 540 days of intense care and effort to bring out cattle from our ranch to your dinner plate.
Our Beef
stetson ranches
Packaged Beef
pasture to plate
Our Process
We blend our purebred certified Black Angus cows with our purebred Hereford bulls to create offspring known as “F1 Black Baldies”. Our cattle for slaughter spend the first 6 months of their lives outside and on our pastures with their mamma’s until weaning. They have ample room to roam with plenty of high-quality native grasses in the summer months to graze and are pasture fed quality mountain grass hay that we raise ourselves. These cattle have access to fresh spring water in the summer months and well water in the winter. They are then grain fed for 270 days in pens that have ample room, so they do not feel the stress and pressures of confinement.
The last 60 days, we push only natural finisher grains to them that creates the best possible meat marbling that science can muster. This is a process we have maintained for generations. Following our custom finishing process, they are then transported to a small, high quality meat processing facility about an hour from our ranch. There, the beef carcass is dry aged for 21 days.
flavorful
Dry Aging
The dry aging process helps create more flavorful and tender meat. Working with a small, local processor allows us to do this whereas a typical processor is generally more focused on volume, speed, and their bottom-line. Although this is important for any business to take into consideration, our bottom-line focus is to produce the highest quality product for our consumers.
Following the dry aging process, the meat is then cut, wrapped, and boxed for pickup. The result is delicious and healthy beef, with no stress endured by the cattle and no stress affecting the quality of the meat. This process is one of the many ways Stetson Ranches is set apart from the conventional meat you are used to purchasing at a supermarket. You know where and how your beef protein is raised and can rest assured that what you’re feeding your family is a safe, natural, and sustainable food source. Total cost is $6.95 per lb. on hanging weight and includes the feed, processing, and all costs associated with finishing our beef as well as shipping to our customers. We dry age our beef for a minimum of two weeks. Keep in mind that this price covers the cost of not only hamburger, but all the cuts of beef offered in each package.
prime everytime
USDA Prime & Choice Grade
At Stetson Ranches we strive to maintain Prime grade and Choice Grade beef.
We guarantee the best marbling that science can achieve! Here are how the USDA grade steaks:
USDA Prime Steaks
USDA Prime is the superior grade with amazing tenderness, juiciness, flavor and fine texture. It has the highest degree of fat marbling and is derived from the younger beef. That’s why Prime is generally featured at the most exclusive upscale steakhouse restaurants.
Used by permission of the USDA
USDA Choice Steaks
USDA Choice is the second highest graded beef. It has less fat marbling than Prime. Choice is a quality steak particularly if it is a cut that is derived from the loin and rib areas of the beef, such as a tenderloin filet or rib steak. Generally, USDA Choice will be less tender, juicy, and flavorful with a slightly more coarse texture versus Prime.
Used by permission of the USDA
USDA Select Steaks
USDA Select is generally the lowest grade of steak you will find at a supermarket or restaurant. You will find it tougher, less juicy and less flavorful since it is leaner than Prime and Choice with very little marbling. The texture of Select is generally more coarse. Therefore, Select is not nearly as enjoyable or desirable.
Used by permission of the USDA