Understanding Cut Sheets

If you are new to raising animals for meat, there is a steep learning curve in understanding the different cuts of meat you can get from each major part—or “primal”—of the animal. To further complicate things, each butcher has their own way of doing things, and depending where you are in the world, they may call the same cut by different names.

The page above from a butcher in VA offers concise descriptions of what’s possible on lambs, pigs, and cattle, along with sample cut sheets.

Explanation of pork primals and the various cut options for each one