General Chat

I know that Belgians eat horsemeat. I understand that Koreans eat dogs. And, if animals in those countries are bred specifically for food, I think that is up to them

But in UK we breed farm animals for slaughter and consumption. That is what we want to eat if we can afford it. Loads of animals in the countryside again, happy slaughterhouse (or rendering plant) employees, happy local butchers and farm shops and happy and healthy us.

But farmers must get a good and steady income. "e must be able to afford their meat. And we must learn how to cook from scratch again. Farmers and butchers must realise how small a typical family budget is these days. £50 a week for a family of 4 is not all that unusual.

£50 just for food? -where do you get your figures from?

what is good is if you time it right & get to the Supermarket when they "half price" food. Many a bargain to be had :-)

Muffy,

If you know a local butcher or a home produce butchers shop,,,,they will do you a meat pack......which will work out far cheaper than buying seperates,,,,,,,also pack share with a friend ?.

do a list up and see what can be offered,maybe once a month,

a butcher would rather discount than have no custom at all....

;-)

£50 a week for a family of 4,? I dont think so.

Hadn't thought of bartering Kay :-D But yes it's def worth a go...I'll keep you posted !!!

(prob will send OH as he's much better at that sort of thing than me !)

work on a 10lb weight for mince,sausages and possibly his home pies,breast of lamb,braised steak.,belly pork,ribs burgers......then parcel for the freezer......it maybe a little extra outlay but once a month and you'd be well stocked in 3/4 months,

I do mine at a famers market butcher and email my order and pick it up once a month,-------sorted,home produced and fresh..... :-D

I for one buy the any 3 for £10 offers regularly and also look for the half price deals at all the supermarkets in the Newcastle area and have never been disappointed yet.
Regarding horse meat, my father used to take me to Rooney's horse slaughterers in Gateshead in the late 1940's and buy from them. I can't remember its taste but all our plates were clean at the end of the meal and I'm still here. I think most of the horses were humanely killed at the racecourses then transfered to Rooneys.

GP

Strangely enough I've just taken the steak and kidney I had in the freezer out ready to make a pie tomorrow...and it's one of a batch I bought reduced from Morrisons a couple of weeks ago... £4.70 down to £2.05..enough there for a meal for 4..and a lunch for me and OH the next day. THat's why there are times when you just can't beat the supermarket for value......

My favourite is when they half price a cooked chicken...just do veg & meal done yeahhhh.

I've just realised that sounds really sad lol excited about a chicken :-0

Farmers continue to be battered, bruised & bewildered even when thay are not at fault. Meanwhile, many of us have an appetite for unhealthy eating.

Wholesale price of loin of lamb weighing 5 kilos was £2.80 per kilo on Friday yielding 20 chops. Someone is coining it even after transport and cutting costs are taken in to account. :-|

Joeva. I would be eating lamb chops 3 times a week if I could get them for less that 50p each. And if my maths are right, that would give the farmer about 20p a chop, the slaughterhouse 5p, the lorry driver 10p, the retailer 15p.

And there would be loads of cheaper and very tasty meat for those who cannot afford 50p a chop. Probably where we were 100 years ago before supermarkets drove butchers out of business :-S

I very often buy direct from the abattoir - totally fresh, very ery cheap, and you know what you are getting

If we had an abattoir anywhere near I think I'd do the same.

You following me, Errol?

Annie

lol Annie - just coincidence!

Oops, that'll teach me to leave this site alone when I'm cooking. I've got visitors coming for tea and the panna cotta I made wasn't setting quickly enough so I popped it in the freezer - and forgot all about it. Panna cotta lolly, anyone?

I'm afraid you'll have manage without me now before I have another disaster. Play nicely.

Annie

Who in their right mind would pay that for 3 chops.....for one person???

John - what are you basing your figures on?
Interested to know how you break those figures down - is there a website you can post?

I live near John, thankfully I haven't stumbled across his butcher :-D lamb leg steaks maybe but not chops unless the sheep was grazing near A nuclear plant!

You can check the fat lamb market prices in your local paper each week.

Jax, you made me choke on my mocha :-P

The local butchers shop is now closed down, but if asked he would usually do some kind of deal.

The supermarket meat offers of 3 for £10 are good, as is checking in the 'short date area', this meat is still good & can be frozen if not wanted that day.

We are quite lucky in our area as we can buy from a local pig farmer who does his own butchering, buy fish straight from the boats & there are lots of locals with selling eggs.

Dairy/beef farmers are having a hard time, the price they get for their produce is sometimes barely covering the cost to produce it . Unfortunately this will go on all the time the UK imports things we can produce here & sometimes from dubious suppliers.

"£50 a week for a family of 4 is not all that unusual."

You can't be serious. 20 years ago when the kids were still at home the weekly "big shop" at Asda nr Kingston-upon-Thames was well over that.

There are plenty of bargains if you look around - I have a leg of lamb (NZ) for tomorrow, £ 10 from the Co-op.