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Which animals are suitable for processing in Ireland’s herd butchery?

It turns into a cooperative process where the butcher acts as a talented craftsman to help you maximize your investment rather than a straightforward retail transaction. The customer-butcher relationship is fundamentally different in herd butchery. In order to foster a deeper connection between their customers and their food, many herd butchers take pride in teaching them about various cuts and cooking techniques. Butchering herds, on the other hand, usually follows seasonal or rotational patterns that correspond with cycles of land management, growth, and grazing.

Ordinarily, butcheries work on a continuous schedule, processing animals all year long to satisfy consistent demand. There are further differences in scale and timing. This method is similar to holistic land stewardship, which considers the interdependence of soil, plant, and animal health. Farmers might process an entire herd or a significant portion at once, which supports pasture rejuvenation and reduces overgrazing. The result is a system that nourishes ecosystems rather than depleting them, creating a ripple effect of benefits.

You can spend a lot of money on many things, but there’s always someone who’s willing to do it for less money, and they might even be better at it. Prices may differ, and some may be better than others. This website features a list of herd butchers, some of whom we have been referred to by other farmers. However, there is nothing better than asking a friend about a local tradesman who has done good work for them if you want to give it a shot.

You can find lists of the best things in farming, dining, lodging, and other areas if you visit the Irish Farmers Journal, Farming Life, the Bord Bia, and the NFU websites. This approach promotes better animal welfare, as they’re not confined to small spaces or subjected to stressful conditions. Animals are raised in a natural environment, with access to fresh air, sunlight, and space to roam. At its core, herd butchery is about treating animals with respect and care.

Our goal is to minimize our workload so that we can provide you with the best service possible. It might take longer than this if we receive a lot of orders and/or if there are issues that need to be resolved, like animal illness or injuries sustained during slaughter. What is the average processing time? It typically takes 10 to 14 days for us to finish processing your animal. Here, the distinction is not one of right or wrong, but rather one of perspective—whether artisanal quality and ecological harmony are more important than uniformity and accessibility.