Our Cow, a Northern NSW based meat delivery service, has gained huge traction during lockdown

The pandemic has meant troubling times for many businesses, but this Northern Rivers meat supplier is tapping into lockdowns and a desire to support Aussie farmers.

Bianca Tarrant and Dave McGiveron of meat delivery service Our Cow.

The pandemic has been a difficult time for many businesses, but for a Northern Rivers based meat delivery service, sales are as high as ever.

Our Cow has evolved out of an effort by Bianca Tarrant and her partner, Dave McGiveron, to secure themselves a consistent market price for their beef back in 2019.

After going into debt to buy their farm and livestock, they were hit by drought and bushfire and the fluctuating saleyards prices didn’t help.

“We were selling to the saleyards and … getting a variable price for our livestock,” Ms Tarrant said.

It began with a Facebook page where they wanted to start with selling one body of beef.

“We ended up selling six bodies in that one month,” she said.

She said once demand grew, more farmers got involved and Our Cow, based in Casino, now has more than 50 suppliers in New South Wales and Queensland providing beef, chicken, pork and lamb.

Meat delivery service Our Cow has grown to have more than 50 meat suppliers.

“We wanted to be able to bring other farmers on board to the Our Cow program,” Ms Tarrant said.

She said the current – extended – Sydney lockdown had been big for business.

The first lockdowns saw panic buying and supply interruptions impact meat supply through supermarkets.

“We always see a spike in orders when someone goes into lockdown, particularly Sydney,” she said.

Buying fresh, cryovac-packaged meat online means customers don’t have to worry about leaving home to go to the shops.

Ms Tarrant said she believed people were as keen as ever to support Australian business during the pandemic, too.

Meat delivery service Our Cow has grown to have more than 50 meat suppliers.

“People want to know they’re supporting Australians, they’re supporting local businesses and they want to know where their food comes from,” she said.

“It’s essentially just like going into the butcher shop but from the comfort of own home.”

She said saleyard prices were currently at a “record high” but their suppliers were sticking with the online business for the benefit of consistency.

“They’re still with us because they can see the longevity of being an Our Cow supplier,” she said.

“We offer farmers a secure and a stable price which does not fluctuate like the price at the sale yard does.

“This gives them an alternative, secure, sustainable livestock market by not relying on cattle prices through conventional selling methods and large multinational companies to purchase products, instead going directly to the consumer.

“We stay above the average and offer locked in pricing so there is no change with the weather and supply and demand.

“More than ever now, consumers also want meat that hasn’t changed hands 10 times before it gets to your dinner plate.”