The phrase signifies the pursuit of buying a portion of a bovine animal, particularly one-half, from a supply positioned in shut proximity to the person searching for the acquisition. This usually entails buying meat straight from a neighborhood farmer or rancher, bypassing conventional retail channels. An instance can be a person in rural Montana trying to find close by cattle farms providing one of these sale.
Buying a portion of a cow gives a number of potential benefits. It will possibly present value financial savings in comparison with buying particular person cuts at a grocery retailer, guarantee a constant provide of beef, and probably supply entry to higher-quality meat sourced from animals raised below particular circumstances, resembling grass-fed or natural. Traditionally, this apply has been frequent in agricultural communities, fostering direct relationships between customers and producers.