Is all your meat grass fed?

With the line between grass and grain a fairly blurry one, we find the heart of the grass fed vs grain fed question lies in animal welfare. The problem with conventional ‘grain feeding’ is that cows and sometimes sheep are fed only grain from a trough in a confined space for a prolonged period. This process is called feedlotting. This inhibits the animals normal grazing patterns (a feedlot is usually bare dirt) and causes issues to the soil as it is over grazed and compacted by heavy foot traffic. There are other unnatural effects such as limited access to shade and water, as well as fecal build up on the ground and waste runoff into natural waterways.

While we don’t believe grain itself is the problem, we can guarantee none of our meat comes from a feedlot. Conventional feedlotting does not align with our values. In some rare cases the feeding of grain or silage may be necessary for our farmers(like in a drought or after a snowfall) but our farmers will bring the feed to their cattle, rather than confining them to a feedlot. 

Do you sell wagyu?

Yes and no. Another question that is not as straightforward as it seems. Wagyu itself is a breed of beef that is highly prized for its heavy marbling (presence of intramuscular fat) While some of our farmers do have wagyu or wagyu cross breeds in their herds, they are a far cry from the creamy pink perfect cubes of meat you might see on your Instagram feed. 

Generally speaking, most commercial wagyu is heavily grain fed. The majority of this is done in feedlots or highly confined barns. This does not align with our values, as we believe cattle should be able to graze naturally and eat a variety of grasses and naturally occurring grains. 

Wagyu as a breed is not the problem. One of our trusted farms- Myall Springs Organics in Gunnedah- produces AngusXWagyu beef, but being pasture raised and free from feedlots means it is less marbled and a far cry from the #meatporn you might see on the internet. Cleaver & Co. celebrates the whole animal, and will only buy wagyu if it has been pasture raised and arrives as a whole carcass, not a ribeye in a cardboard box.

Can you cater for dietary requirements?

As a full service butcher shop we can cater to any dietary requirements with enough notice. We make all of our products on premises and are happy to customise them for our customers (minimum orders apply) 

Generally speaking we like to let the meat star in our products. We believe good meat shouldn’t be spoilt with artificial flavours or chemicals, so many of our products are clean and unprocessed anyway. If you’re after items free from gluten, soy, dairy, nuts, egg, additives, preservatives etc. we will be more than happy to point you in the right direction.

Do you deliver?

Generally speaking, no. Call us old fashioned, but part of the reason we love the traditional butcher shop is being part of a community and forming face to face relationships with our customers. With community connectedness at an all time low, and social anxiety at an all time high, we think the ability to go into a shop, have a conversation and complete a transaction is an important skill, even though it can be a bit scary.

Does this lose us customers? Probably. But that’s ok. We started this business to be a part of a community. Not chase money in ways we don’t want to behind computer screens. 

During the Covid-19 pandemic and other extenuating circumstances however, we are more than happy to make exceptions. Deliveries to the elderly, sick or isolated can be arranged in advance by calling 02 42294562. Please do so a day in advance so we can make arrangements.

So how do I order then?

The best way for you to place an order with us at Cleaver & Co. is to pop in store or call the shop on (02) 42294562.

With so many avenues of communication around these days, please only use these 2 methods. It becomes extremely difficult to consolidate orders when they’re coming in from Facebook, Instagram, private messages, or messages to my personal mobile.