Why Are Pasture Raised Meats More Expensive!?

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posted on

February 4, 2019

I know you all wonder about it...

There's a reason why so many people don't buy local pasture raised meats and it's mainly one thing...

Price. $$$

Most people want to buy it and support the idea but get sticker shock when they see the price of the product and just go back to buying the conventional beef that has the "organic" or "grass-fed" label on it (You can read here why we don't like labeling: Why labels on meat are so misleading)

Pasture raised meats are typically more expensive than conventional meat.

Why is that? Does it really cost that much more to raise a pastured animal?

I'm here to answer those questions.

What is the biggest factor in price differences between pasture-raised meats and conventional meat?

Processing.

Believe it or not, with the exception of chickens, it does not cost us much more to raise our animals on pasture than it does a feedlot to finish beef.

However, our scale and processing costs make all the difference. Did you know that there are 4 meatpackers in the US that own more than 80% of the meatpacking industry?! Did you also know that they are capable of processing between 21,000-29,000 animals every day!

The small processor that we use to package our meat processes only up to 50 animals a week. That's a BIG difference from 29,000 a day.

Obviously, there is big cost difference between a processing plant like that and a small processing facility like we use. To process a cow at a small scale processing facility is between 5-6 times more expensive than the big processing plants.

Economies of scale are definitely not on our side for small facility processing.

However, this is something that the big processing plants cannot provide...

Security in your health and well-being. Let's be real. Large processing companies that butcher 29,000 animals a day...

Do you think they can really keep track and make sure that all the animals that are coming in are healthy? Do you think that the end product was processed completely safe?

We don't even have to speculate...It's on national news!!

In December, 5.1 millions of meat was recalled due to salmonella contamination. There were other large-scale recalls in 2018 as well.

So, the next time you go to Costco, Walmart or any major grocery store chain know that all the meat displayed is coming from the 4 major processing companies... Even if it has grass-fed or organic written on the label.

By using a small processing facility we know that our meat is safe and has gone through the proper steps to assure it's safe processing. And, all the animals are also processed and packaged separately.

That means that in the unlikely event that meat is recalled it is extremely traceable, since every animal has a lot number that can be traced back to the day it was processed.

There aren't 100 different cows in your hamburger...just one, clean and healthy cow.

I'm happy to answer your questions on this topic!

At Cunningham Pastured Meats serving you healthy, clean, safe meat is our top priority!

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Full 2026: Series on The Big Grass Fire "It Starts with a Spark!"

Neighbors Helping Neighbors: Standing Together During the Big Grass Fire July 25th-27th 2026. When wildfires threaten our communities, they don’t stop to ask whose land they’re on. They move quickly, changing lives in a matter of hours. But in rural communities like ours, something else moves just as quickly—neighbors stepping up to help neighbors. As the Big Grass Fire continues to impact parts of Idaho and Oregon, Sean Cunningham of Cunningham Pastured Meats has joined countless ranchers, volunteers, firefighters, and first responders working tirelessly to support those directly affected. But, in spite of the effort to mitigate the damages, the devastation is real to life and property. While the Cunningham ranch has not been directly impacted by the fire, Sean has been spending long days assisting neighboring ranchers whose grazing lands, livestock, fences, and livelihoods have been threatened. Whether helping protect cattle, building fire lines, moving equipment, or supporting firefighting efforts wherever needed, the work reflects something deeply rooted in ranching culture: when one neighbor is hurting, everyone shows up. With but a brief reunion with Sean after his 3 days of fire service. As you can imagine, while Sean is all smiles to finally be home for some much-needed rest, tears were shed by the littles in his reunion with the family! As many of you know, Liz and Sean, while still only in their late 30s, have seven children and one on the way. To date, Liz and Sean have spent days apart, each taking on the role in their own capacity against the fires. Sean on the dozer in the field and Liz capturing the story in a digital war to garner the attention of news agencies like KTVB7, the Lt. Governor's office, the White House, electric company CEOs and others for much needed assistance and support for the communities who are now at the mercy of a rogue grass fire, The Big Grass Fire and simultaneous fires stretching thousands of acres throughout the Jordan Valley and beyond. That spirit of service and capitalizing on each person's strengths to wage the war against the fires is nothing new to ranchers. Across the West, ranchers have long been among the first to respond when wildfire strikes. Their knowledge of the land, equipment, water sources, and terrain often makes them invaluable partners alongside local, state, and federal fire crews. Many volunteer through Rangeland Fire Protection Associations, organizations that have become an essential part of wildfire response throughout Oregon and Idaho. These partnerships help firefighters respond more quickly while protecting communities, grazing lands, wildlife habitat, and homes. For ranching families, these fires aren’t simply headlines—they’re deeply personal. A single fire can erase years of stewardship, destroy fencing, eliminate forage needed to feed cattle, and disrupt generations of hard work. Yet even in the face of tremendous loss, ranchers continue helping one another because that’s simply what neighbors do. We are incredibly grateful to every firefighter, volunteer, dispatcher, law enforcement officer, ranch family, and community member working around the clock to protect lives and property. Their courage and commitment remind us that the strength of rural communities isn’t measured only by the land we steward—it’s measured by the people willing to stand together when it matters most. Please continue keeping the families directly affected by these fires in your thoughts and prayers. Recovery will take time, but our communities have always been built on resilience, compassion, and a willingness to lend a hand. As of Wednesday July 29, 2026 at 8 am the non-official update includes official agencies holding the line with the yellow circles area in the image below a wild card. With potential winds pushing north again, critical barriers may not be enough to hold the fire from encroaching on Silver City. The blue circled area on a post seen here with images is the most difficult to manage, with juniper trees, canyons, and rock formations making it difficult terrain to navigate intervention and support. See more details and images here From all of us at Cunningham Pastured Meats and Cliff’s Country Market, thank you to everyone serving on the front lines and behind the scenes. We are honored to stand alongside a community that continues to embody the very best of what it means to be neighbors helping neighbors. 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Now, we wait for the calvary to come to our assistance. My role as a digital warriror, is a continued effort to push emails to the governor's office, spread the word of our mayor of Jordan Valley as she makes herself heard on social media in a plea for help. I make posts that are intentional and tagged to the White House seeking attention to what looks to be a dangerous situation brewing in the fires that surround us. And, I share our neighboring rancher's stories as the fire consumes the land and much needed grazing property. 🔥🔥🔥 While Sean continues serving on the fire line, our team back at the Cunningham Pastured Meats continues packing every order from our warehouse at Cliff's Country Market in Caldwell, Idaho. Every order you place helps keep our family business moving while our ranch family helps serve the community. Thank you for standing with us. It means more than you know. Watch Sean's interview with KTVB news.

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Why Are Pasture Raised Meats More Expensive!?

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