Jan 11 (edited) β’ General discussion
π§ Industry-Standard Freezer Yield (Take-Home Meat)
π Beef
Measured from: Hanging (hot) weight
β’ Typical yield: 55β65%
β’ Industry planning standard: 60%
β’ Conservative number: 55β58%
Example
β’ 1,000 lb live steer
β’ ~600 lb hanging weight
β’ ~330β390 lb freezer beef
What affects beef yield
β’ Bone-in vs boneless cuts
β’ Fat trim preference
β’ Grind percentage
β’ Aging time (dry aging reduces yield slightly)
π‘ 60% of hanging weight is the most widely accepted and defensible number.
βΈ»
π Pork
Measured from: Hanging weight
β’ Typical yield: 65β75%
β’ Industry planning standard: 70%
β’ Conservative number: 65%
Example
β’ 300 lb live hog
β’ ~210 lb hanging weight
β’ ~135β160 lb freezer pork
What affects pork yield
β’ Bacon thickness
β’ Cure/smoke loss
β’ Bone-in vs boneless
β’ Sausage vs whole cuts
Pork yields higher than beef due to less bone and different fat distribution.
βΈ»
π Lamb
Measured from: Hanging weight
β’ Typical yield: 50β60%
β’ Industry planning standard: 55%
β’ Conservative number: 50β52%
Example
β’ 140 lb live lamb
β’ ~70β75 lb hanging weight
β’ ~35β45 lb freezer lamb
What affects lamb yield
β’ Heavy bone proportion
β’ Fat trim preferences
β’ Size of the animal
Lamb has one of the lowest freezer yields pound-for-pound.
βΈ»
π Goat
Measured from: Hanging weight
β’ Typical yield: 45β55%
β’ Industry planning standard: 50%
β’ Conservative number: 45%
Example
β’ 90 lb live goat
β’ ~45 lb hanging weight
β’ ~20β25 lb freezer goat
What affects goat yield
β’ Very lean carcasses
β’ High bone-to-meat ratio
β’ Minimal fat
Goat yields less than lamb and beef β expectations must be set clearly.
βΈ»
π Chicken
Measured from: Live weight
β’ Typical yield: 65β75%
β’ Industry planning standard: 70%
β’ Conservative number: 65%
Example
β’ 6 lb live chicken
β’ ~3.8β4.5 lb whole bird
What affects chicken yield
β’ Head/feet removal
β’ Giblets in or out
β’ Water retention (air-chilled vs water-chilled)
Whole birds yield higher than cut-up birds.
#homesteading #freezerbeef #lockerbeef #ranchlife #meat #farm #farmtotable #farming #northidaho
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π§ Industry-Standard Freezer Yield (Take-Home Meat)
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