I came across this again recently, and don't remember ever seeing it posted here, so I thought I'd share it.
"Yes, you can feed raw even when $$$$ are tight. Here is a list of 43 possible
sources for cheaper (or sometimes even free) meat. If you belong to other
groups, you might have already seen this posted as "The Lis List".
Perhaps not all of the ideas will work for you, but whether you live in the city
or in a rural area, there are possibilities you may be able to use.
If you have the space, get yourself a freezer, so you can take advantage of the
savings when you find them. There are often freezers for free (or cheap) on
Freecycle, and Craigslist.
Finding Cheaper / Free Sources of Meat (For Raw Feeding):
1) look up meat and poultry packers, plants, and distributors in the yellow
pages (or online). You may be able to get great prices from them if you order in
bulk, and/or they may have a discount outlet that is open to the public.
2) I get many of my best deals in Asian/Oriental markets. I've also heard
that Hispanic and Caribbean markets have great variety and prices too. But not
all ethnic markets are the same - some are much cheaper than others - you must
visit a few and compare.
3) you may be able to join a barter group.
4) google breeders (i.e. rabbit, goat, lamb, etc.) who are in your geographic
area. They may have culls they want to get rid of, or stillborns, or lower
prices overall.
Don't forget 4-H breeders.
5) try bulk buying - Look up bulk suppliers and frozen bulk foods in your yellow
pages (or online).
6) if you have a Chinatown nearby, definitely make a visit.
7) let your friends, relatives, and neighbors know you want any freezer burnt or
old meat when they clean out their freezers, and tell them to pass the word
along. Freezer-burnt meat may be dried out on the edges but is perfectly safe for pets
as long as it has been frozen all this time.
8) if you belong to a church or social group, tell those members to mention it
to their friends and relatives as well. You may be allowed to put a notice on
the bulletin board or in the newsletter.
9) see if there are any co-ops or meat buying groups near you. Check on Yahoo,
or Google to see.
Searching for co-ops or meat buying groups is a bit easier if you use "raw" and
"BARF" as keywords,and also use names or acronyms of your
town/city/county/state/region.
Yahoo! Groups - Join or create groups, clubs, forums & communities
9b) and here's a website that lists a number of raw food co-ops and groups:
DogAware.com: Raw Dog Food Co-ops and Local Groups
10) try a free ad website, like Craigslist or Kijiji - it's amazing what you can
get for free or cheap. Here are the most popular ones:
Craigslist > Cities
Free classifieds - backpage.com
Free Classifieds - USFreeads
Marketplace in North Ft Myers
11) I get meat, poultry, and fish all the time (for free) through
Freecycle. Join multiple lists if you live or work close to the boundary of
another list.
And join some of the other variations too:
The Freecycle Network
FreeSharing.org - Home
Sharing Is Giving
The ReUseIt Network - About Us
FreeSharing.org - Sites Like Us
12) some Walmarts and some Costcos and some Sams
Clubs have good deals, but you may want to make sure
it's not seasoned meat you're buying.
13) definitely watch the store flyers, and you can usually see the rest of the
flyers online (the ones that don't get delivered to your home, but are only a
short drive away).
14) the bulk of my best deals have been marked down meat at
regular grocery stores. They reduce it the day before it is going to expire, and
I go as early as I can in the morning to get it before it is gone.
15) tell friends and relatives who hunt and fish that you want first dibs on any
body parts they don't want.
You can probably get at least the organs and maybe the head. Also ask them to
put you in touch with their other friends who hunt and fish.
16) a great tip I learned a while back – some restaurants and caterers throw out
things they don't use, like the organs that come inside whole poultry, or raw
meat that falls on the floor. See if they'll save them for you. Find somebody who
knows somebody who works in a restaurant or knows a caterer.
17) farmer's markets are great, but pick and choose carefully for the best
bargains. And sometimes at the end of the day some vendors will reduce their
prices,cause they don't want to take it back with them.
18) some people contact taxidermists, who have no use for the meat.
19) join the Raw Feeding Yahoo Group and find people on that list from your
vicinity, and ask them where they get their meat deals.
rawfeeding : Raw Feeding for dogs and cats!
Join other raw feeding lists or other pet or breeder related lists (there are
many, some may even be local to you), and ask if there are other raw feeders in
your area.
And there is also a Facebook raw feeding group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=261761471359
20) tell your butcher you want the meat that they would normally throw out, that
is almost out of date,that people ordered and didn't pick up, stuff that was
dropped on the floor, their freezer clean-outs, and parts that don't sell (like
trachea, lungs, spleen, etc.). Some butchers will save their trim for you (once
they get to know you). Build a relationship with them first. Many butchers will
give you these things for free, once they know you (and especially if you are a
regular customer who buys meat for yourself).
21) yes, roadkill works too (where it is legal). In some places you can get your
name on the list and get called when they have large roadkill (like deer). You
may be able to move to the top of the list if you say you don't mind getting
called at night or for kill more than a couple of hours old.
22) you can raise your own meat/poultry if you have the space.
23) post a message in Carnivore-Feed-Supplier if you are in the U.S. or
CFS-Canada if you are in Canada, or CFS-Australia if you are in Australia.
All of these groups specialize in matching up meat suppliers with raw feeders:
CarnivoreFeed-Supplier : Carnivore feeders and feed suppliers
CFS-Canada : Carnivore Feed Suppliers in Canada
CFS-Australia : CFS in Australia
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=118405634857097&v=wall&ref=ts#!/group.php?\
gid=118405634857097&v=wall&ref=ts
24) speak to local farmers. Also, you may also be able to get their injured or
old stock at very reduced prices.
25) you can look for heart, tongue, and gizzards which count as meat (as opposed
to organ) in the world of raw feeding, but are often cheaper than other muscle
meats.
26) find somebody who knows somebody who works at the grocery store. They can
introduce you to the meat guy, who may become more willing to save stuff for you
or reduce items about to expire, once they know you.
27) check the internet. Some suppliers have affordable prices, even after
shipping costs are calculated.
28) double-whammy: if a meat is on special this week at the grocery, go in and
check the expiry date on the packages. Then go back to get it when reduced again
(reduction on the reduction) the day of or day before expiry (depending on their
policy).
29) somebody had a great source a while back: some schools (colleges) that teach
butchering sell the meat really cheap, that the students have worked on."
"Yes, you can feed raw even when $$$$ are tight. Here is a list of 43 possible
sources for cheaper (or sometimes even free) meat. If you belong to other
groups, you might have already seen this posted as "The Lis List".
Perhaps not all of the ideas will work for you, but whether you live in the city
or in a rural area, there are possibilities you may be able to use.
If you have the space, get yourself a freezer, so you can take advantage of the
savings when you find them. There are often freezers for free (or cheap) on
Freecycle, and Craigslist.
Finding Cheaper / Free Sources of Meat (For Raw Feeding):
1) look up meat and poultry packers, plants, and distributors in the yellow
pages (or online). You may be able to get great prices from them if you order in
bulk, and/or they may have a discount outlet that is open to the public.
2) I get many of my best deals in Asian/Oriental markets. I've also heard
that Hispanic and Caribbean markets have great variety and prices too. But not
all ethnic markets are the same - some are much cheaper than others - you must
visit a few and compare.
3) you may be able to join a barter group.
4) google breeders (i.e. rabbit, goat, lamb, etc.) who are in your geographic
area. They may have culls they want to get rid of, or stillborns, or lower
prices overall.
Don't forget 4-H breeders.
5) try bulk buying - Look up bulk suppliers and frozen bulk foods in your yellow
pages (or online).
6) if you have a Chinatown nearby, definitely make a visit.
7) let your friends, relatives, and neighbors know you want any freezer burnt or
old meat when they clean out their freezers, and tell them to pass the word
along. Freezer-burnt meat may be dried out on the edges but is perfectly safe for pets
as long as it has been frozen all this time.
8) if you belong to a church or social group, tell those members to mention it
to their friends and relatives as well. You may be allowed to put a notice on
the bulletin board or in the newsletter.
9) see if there are any co-ops or meat buying groups near you. Check on Yahoo,
or Google to see.
Searching for co-ops or meat buying groups is a bit easier if you use "raw" and
"BARF" as keywords,and also use names or acronyms of your
town/city/county/state/region.
Yahoo! Groups - Join or create groups, clubs, forums & communities
9b) and here's a website that lists a number of raw food co-ops and groups:
DogAware.com: Raw Dog Food Co-ops and Local Groups
10) try a free ad website, like Craigslist or Kijiji - it's amazing what you can
get for free or cheap. Here are the most popular ones:
Craigslist > Cities
Free classifieds - backpage.com
Free Classifieds - USFreeads
Marketplace in North Ft Myers
11) I get meat, poultry, and fish all the time (for free) through
Freecycle. Join multiple lists if you live or work close to the boundary of
another list.
And join some of the other variations too:
The Freecycle Network
FreeSharing.org - Home
Sharing Is Giving
The ReUseIt Network - About Us
FreeSharing.org - Sites Like Us
12) some Walmarts and some Costcos and some Sams
Clubs have good deals, but you may want to make sure
it's not seasoned meat you're buying.
13) definitely watch the store flyers, and you can usually see the rest of the
flyers online (the ones that don't get delivered to your home, but are only a
short drive away).
14) the bulk of my best deals have been marked down meat at
regular grocery stores. They reduce it the day before it is going to expire, and
I go as early as I can in the morning to get it before it is gone.
15) tell friends and relatives who hunt and fish that you want first dibs on any
body parts they don't want.
You can probably get at least the organs and maybe the head. Also ask them to
put you in touch with their other friends who hunt and fish.
16) a great tip I learned a while back – some restaurants and caterers throw out
things they don't use, like the organs that come inside whole poultry, or raw
meat that falls on the floor. See if they'll save them for you. Find somebody who
knows somebody who works in a restaurant or knows a caterer.
17) farmer's markets are great, but pick and choose carefully for the best
bargains. And sometimes at the end of the day some vendors will reduce their
prices,cause they don't want to take it back with them.
18) some people contact taxidermists, who have no use for the meat.
19) join the Raw Feeding Yahoo Group and find people on that list from your
vicinity, and ask them where they get their meat deals.
rawfeeding : Raw Feeding for dogs and cats!
Join other raw feeding lists or other pet or breeder related lists (there are
many, some may even be local to you), and ask if there are other raw feeders in
your area.
And there is also a Facebook raw feeding group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=261761471359
20) tell your butcher you want the meat that they would normally throw out, that
is almost out of date,that people ordered and didn't pick up, stuff that was
dropped on the floor, their freezer clean-outs, and parts that don't sell (like
trachea, lungs, spleen, etc.). Some butchers will save their trim for you (once
they get to know you). Build a relationship with them first. Many butchers will
give you these things for free, once they know you (and especially if you are a
regular customer who buys meat for yourself).
21) yes, roadkill works too (where it is legal). In some places you can get your
name on the list and get called when they have large roadkill (like deer). You
may be able to move to the top of the list if you say you don't mind getting
called at night or for kill more than a couple of hours old.
22) you can raise your own meat/poultry if you have the space.
23) post a message in Carnivore-Feed-Supplier if you are in the U.S. or
CFS-Canada if you are in Canada, or CFS-Australia if you are in Australia.
All of these groups specialize in matching up meat suppliers with raw feeders:
CarnivoreFeed-Supplier : Carnivore feeders and feed suppliers
CFS-Canada : Carnivore Feed Suppliers in Canada
CFS-Australia : CFS in Australia
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=118405634857097&v=wall&ref=ts#!/group.php?\
gid=118405634857097&v=wall&ref=ts
24) speak to local farmers. Also, you may also be able to get their injured or
old stock at very reduced prices.
25) you can look for heart, tongue, and gizzards which count as meat (as opposed
to organ) in the world of raw feeding, but are often cheaper than other muscle
meats.
26) find somebody who knows somebody who works at the grocery store. They can
introduce you to the meat guy, who may become more willing to save stuff for you
or reduce items about to expire, once they know you.
27) check the internet. Some suppliers have affordable prices, even after
shipping costs are calculated.
28) double-whammy: if a meat is on special this week at the grocery, go in and
check the expiry date on the packages. Then go back to get it when reduced again
(reduction on the reduction) the day of or day before expiry (depending on their
policy).
29) somebody had a great source a while back: some schools (colleges) that teach
butchering sell the meat really cheap, that the students have worked on."
I sometimes lurk on that group, but am not a member. I don't care for the mods elitist, never wrong, I'm better than you attitude.
