NATURE FIRST · BARF KNOWLEDGE
Where to Get BARF Meat When You Have No Supplier
Butcher, slaughterhouse, farm shop or online: where to find good raw meat cheaply, how to shop smart and what to watch for safety and the law.
Many people shy away from raw feeding because they think they need an expensive specialist supplier. Not true. Meat, organ meat and bones are available almost everywhere once you know where to ask. With a little planning and freezing for stock, you often feed more cheaply than with ready-made products. Here are the best sources and the points to keep in mind.
The sources at a glance
Butcher
Off-cuts, bones and organ meat are often cheap or almost free, just ask politely.
Slaughterhouse and producers
Organ meat, tripe and bones in larger amounts, very cheap. Worth freezing for stock.
Farm shop and market
Fresh meat and fish from the stall, often good quality and short distances.
Hunters
Deer and venison, natural and lean. Important: never wild boar raw, and freeze game well to be safe.
Supermarket
Reduced stock close to the use-by date works well, as long as the cold chain holds.
Frozen meat online
Pre-portioned and delivered frozen, ideal when there is no source nearby.
Asking your butcher pays off
The butcher around the corner is the best first address. Many gladly hand over off-cuts, bones, sinews and organ meat that are not meant for the counter. For people they are often uninteresting, for the dog ideal. Ask politely, become a regular and pre-order larger amounts, then they often set something aside for you. Prices range from very cheap to free.
Slaughterhouse, producers and hunters
If you have a slaughterhouse or a farm with on-site slaughter nearby, you can often get organ meat, tripe and bones there very cheaply and in large amounts. It pays to buy a stock straight away and freeze it in portions, then the trip is worth it too. Hunters are a good source of lean game such as deer or venison. With game the rule is: freeze well due to possible parasites, and wild boar never goes into the bowl raw because of the Aujeszky virus.
Online and group orders
If there is no source nearby, many online retailers deliver frozen raw meat to your door, single type or as a ready mix. Convenient, but usually a little pricier. A clever mix are group orders: in many regions raw feeding groups team up and order larger amounts together, which cuts shipping costs noticeably. You will find such groups in local forums and social networks.
What you can save
Put together yourself, BARF is often cheaper than ready-made menus, especially when you source tripe, bones and organ meat from low-cost suppliers.
Example calculation
- Ready-made BARF menus cost roughly 5 to 9 euros per kilo depending on the brand.
- Mixed yourself from butcher off-cuts, slaughterhouse organ meat and tripe, you often land at 2 to 4 euros per kilo.
- Tripe and bones are sometimes almost free from the right source.
- Buying for stock and freezing saves trips and money.
Safety, cold chain and the law
- Never feed pork or wild boar raw because of the Aujeszky virus, which is fatal for dogs. Only safe when fully cooked.
- Keep the cold chain. Raw meat belongs swiftly in the fridge or freezer, thaw gently in the fridge.
- Kitchen hygiene. Clean surfaces, knives and hands thoroughly after handling raw meat, because of germs like salmonella.
- The legal side. Rules vary by country. Buying privately for your own dog is generally unproblematic, only the commercial sale of raw pet food is subject to its own regulations.
For puppies, sick or immunocompromised dogs and when in doubt, it is best to discuss feeding with your vet.
Practical helpers for shopping
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Frozen meat online
Pre-portioned raw meat delivered frozen, when there is no source nearby.
- Single type or as a mix
- Delivered frozen
- Clear labelling
Chest freezer
Buying for stock needs space. A freezer quickly pays off through the cheaper bulk amounts.
- Plenty of volume
- Low energy use
- Frozen food keeps for a long time
Scale and containers
For exact amounts and clean freezing in handy portions.
- Accurate to 1 gram
- Food-safe containers
- Stackable and sealed
Meat grinder
Grinds bones and meat finely, handy for large amounts and dogs that gulp.
- Strong motor
- Easy to clean
- Saves money on stock
Frequently asked questions
Is meat you source yourself really cheaper?
Mostly yes. Through butcher off-cuts, slaughterhouse organ meat and tripe you often reach 2 to 4 euros per kilo, while ready-made menus quickly cost 5 to 9. Buying for stock lowers the price further.
Is the butcher allowed to give me meat for the dog?
Yes. Off-cuts and bones for feeding dogs are straightforward. Just ask politely, many butchers are happy to help.
Can I also use supermarket meat?
Yes, as long as the cold chain holds. Reduced fresh stock close to the use-by date works well. But never pork raw.
How do I store the meat correctly?
Chill or freeze fresh meat swiftly. For stock, freeze in portions and thaw gently in the fridge, not at room temperature.
Is this even legal?
For private purchase for your own dog there are no special requirements in most places. Only the commercial sale of raw pet food is subject to its own rules.