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On-farm slaughter is the most humane and gentle death a farm animal can have. Instead of being taken to an unfamiliar place and separated from its flock, the end comes quickly within the context of home and herd. There is little to no stress for the animal, which is a difference you can taste in the meat. It is also, incidentally, less stressful for the farmer, who does not have to load and haul animals down to the slaughterhouse.

Most meat processors charge based on hanging weight, which is the weight of the carcass after removing the hide, organs, and head of the animal. They then trim and debone, discarding 30-50% of that weight to accommodate the average consumer’s expectations. By providing you with everything (and teaching you how to use it!) we return 100%. But because you also receive organ and head products (like the best guanciale you can get outside of Italy) which were not “counted” in the hanging weight, you can receive more than 100% of what you paid for.

We’re certainly not going to force them on you! It’s simply that whereas other butchers assume you won’t want them, we assume you will. Choose the cut plan that doesn’t include organs or bones and we’ll deal with them on our side.

But as these are the most nutritious parts of the animal, we want you to feel empowered to enjoy them. It’s not hard to do with just a little guidance!

We operate at very small scale and only source from vetted farmers we trust to treat their animals in accordance with their nature. Every farm has personally been visited by us.

We also offer traditional preservation methods from the days before chest freezers were around. This means that our bacon can sit on your counter for months; a leg of lamb hang in your kitchen; pulled pork can be tucked in your pantry ready for your appetite. You can only get these products here.

The cost of your share is calculated per pound of “hanging weight.” You pay a flat fee up-front for a deposit that reserves your share. After hanging weight is measured, you will be billed for the remainder of the price. Some premium products or additional processing services are offered for an additional fee - this will always be clearly stated in the order form.

The short answer is: this is what quality meat costs to produce and process.

The longer answer depends on what you’re comparing to. If you buy pork at the grocery store, it may be $1.99/lb. That pork can be cheap because the government heavily subsidizes its production, and it came from a farm where the pigs are bred to put on muscle as fast as possible, kept in stalls too cramped to move freely, fed minimum quality mash formulated specifically for muscle gain, and processed by the thousands. The pork we offer is completely different in all of these respects.

If you’re comparing to other meat shares in the area, you’ll see we’re not very far off, or even slightly lower in price. Many farmers tend to undervalue their meat and operate at a loss because they heroically want to make their food more available at their own cost. Many butchers operate in greater volumes and offer retail. They price with the assumption that you will only receive 50-60% of the weight they charge for. It’s important to us at Village Herd to ensure livable wages for our farming partners, to utilize 100% of the animal harvest, and to provide the highest quality butchery service in the region.

Order from us and you become part of our village. We work hard to win your trust and please you. You can expect individual attention, gentle guidance, and a product prepared as if for a friend or neighbor. We are delighted to offer you the most delicious and nutritious food we can procure.

If you have any questions, want to become a producer, or want to reserve a meat share, you can use the contact form on the “Contact Us” page or directly email at shepherd@villageherd.com.