RESPECT THE BEEF
Sustainable · 100% Pasture-Raised · Grain-Finished
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We are a small California farm with over 20 years trusted experience raising cattle. Our focus is quality, sustainability, longevity, and innovation.
Our cattle are grass-fed and then finished on grain grown from our property. Forest Lake Farms cows are 100% on pasture and we do not use antibiotics.
Beef shares/quarter cows are prepped with cuts individually vacuum sealed, labeled, and frozen.
Forest Lake Farms has set a new standard with tenderness scores for our beef. Our cattle have been bred and optimized for tenderness for the past six years using our proprietary ultrasound grading process so that our beef is always Prime or better.
Considering a beef share?
Purchasing a quarter cow is a great investment; whether for you alone or to split with friends and family.
When are our next shares available?
How many pounds will you get?
What is the cost?
How much freezer space will you need?
Who are we?
First, we’re a family business. But a close second, we’re all about quality.
What’s Ultrasound Imaging?
Discover how we measure tenderness to produce the highest-graded cattle in the 7 Western States.
What people are saying.
“Simply the best quality beef out there! We ordered a 1/4 cow in January for ourselves and have ordered 10 lbs boxes anytime we entertain. No matter the cut, the tenderness and flavors are there, stealing the show!! Service has always been swift and the boxes arrive with plenty of dry ice so it will hold the freeze even when we aren't home to receive it. Couldn't recommend them enough!” — Frederick Boelen
“Buying local and sustainably grown beef from Forest Lakes Farms has been such a game changer for us. Their meat is truly superior quality. We shared a ¼ cow with some friends and we all have been having fun sharing successful recipes; everything from simply seared delicious steaks to “fancy” meatloaf! We are mowing through our first order knowing we will be ordering again soon. Kudos to the team at Forest Lake Farms for providing us the opportunity to share in such a great quality product!” — Bruce and Trudy Presser
“We were a once a month beef type of family, and always splurged on cuts. Forest Lake Farms has spoiled us with a Quarter Cow of high quality beef at the fraction of the cost we used to pay. The beef literally melts in your mouth and while the premium cuts are amazingly tender, we have to praise the ground beef. We are a strictly Forest Lake Farms burger household now. The quality, supporting a local business, plus the amazing Customer Service made this a great investment.” — Claire and Mike Pease, self proclaimed ‘pretentious beef eaters’
“I split a quarter of beef from Forest Lake Farms with 3 of my friends and it has been amazing! We each got about 35 pounds of beef, which fit perfectly on one shelf of my freezer. The beef is more flavorful and tender than any beef I've had before and it has been really fun to try new cuts that I don't typically buy. From hamburgers to stir-frys to grilled steaks, I'm enjoying every bite. Now that I know what I've been missing, I won't buy beef from anywhere else!” — Caitlin Powell
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Breed: English
Number of Cattle: 3 (12 Quarters)
Live Weight: ~1,300 lbs
Take-Home Weight: ~105 lbs
Tenderness Rating: 84
IMF % (Marbling): 9%
The Cattle
We have three cows available for quarter/beef share purchase. Please read all of the information below carefully before paying. If you have any further questions, email us at info@forestlakefarms.com.
Each of our cattle selected for the Beef Share program is handpicked based off the individual cows Intramuscular Fat Content/IMF, Tenderness Score, and Final Weight. This ensures exceptionally high-end beef being delivered directly to our clients.
This round of Forest Lake Farms Quarters come from 3 remarkable cattle that all rated 84% from a tenderness perspective and with a IMF of 9%, we hope you like your beef tender with good marbling! We found it only appropriate to name these 3 cattle after the three lakes found in the Crystal Lake Basin - Union Valley, Loon Lake, and Ice House.
Pricing
The final take-home weight for a quarter cow estimates at 105 lbs, with a total quarter invoice price of $1,500.
Timing
Each cow has an expected ready date that accounts for a minimum of 14 days of dry-aging and butchery. These quarters are ready to be delivered.
Shipping/Delivery
Quarters are only available for purchase if you reside in California.
All beef arrives frozen with individual cuts vacuum sealed and labeled. We currently offer FREE DELIVERY to customers in the California Bay Area/Northern California. If you live outside this area and are interested in a beef share, you will need to pick up your beef from us.
What cuts of beef can I expect?
Quarter (1/4) Beef is approximately 110 lbs
15%: Ribeye Steak, New York Steak, Tenderloin Filet
35%: Chuck Steak, Flank Steak, Sirloin, Short Rib, Carne Asada
5%: Tri-Tip or Brisket
45%: Ground Beef
Freezer Recommendations
We recommend a 4 cubic foot freezer for your quarter cow.
Weight Terminology
Live Weight: This is what the animal weighs when it was alive.
Hanging Weight: This is the weight that the butcher determines after they have ‘hung’ the animal. The weight difference from live to hanging is due to loss of blood, head, hide, hooves, viscera, lungs, and heart.
Final/Take-Home Weight: This is the weight of the beef that you will bring home. The weight difference from hanging to take-home is due to loss of water weight over the 14 day dry-aging process and removal of certain bones & fat while butchering into individual cuts.