Frequently Asked Questions

The greater majority (90%) of our produce is delivered fresh and is suitable for freezing. That includes our fish range.

For those items that have previously been frozen, click the STORAGE tab on each product page which tell you if it has been frozen. These products will have defrosted in transit and cannot be re-frozen.

The product label will clearly state if the product has previously been frozen.

Our grass-fed beef and lamb, and our outdoor reared pork comes from small, family run farms based in Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset that use traditional methods of animal husbandry in a natural and biodiverse growing environment and allow their animals to grow at a natural pace and from native British heritage breeds. This produces proper meat that has great depth of flavour.

Our chicken is fully free-range and our fresh fish is sustainable, responsibly caught by a trusted group of local fishermen who are based along the coast of Dorset, Devon and Cornwall.

You can read more about our farmers here.

Yes.

Our cows and sheep enjoy a natural diet of 100%, pure grass and wildflowers, hay and haylage, rich in essential vitamins and minerals.

Our outdoor reared, free-range pigs eat natural and homegrown cereals, vegetables, brassicas, roots and shrubs.

Our free-range chickens are fed on cereals, shrubs, insects and grass. The milled cereal consists of wheat, barley, peas and beans, lupins, rapeseed oil, vitamins and minerals.  No maize is  included.

Our wild game eat a natural and varied diet of grass, cereals, insects and berries.

We only work with farmers who prioritise animal welfare and who use traditional, free-range farming methods, allowing their animals to live in outdoor conditions enjoying a natural diet untainted by growth promoters and chemicals.

No.

Our 100% grass-fed meat is sourced from small-scale, local farms and has been produced ethically, compassionately and in harmony with nature.

The Soil Association (who are the principal certifying body for organic meat in the UK) only require organic cattle to be 60% grass-fed and 40% from processed grains. Our cattle are only fed 100% grass throughout their lives which is healthier for the animals, and for us.

Our farmers have not applied for organic certification as they don’t need to. We believe that the organic label does not go as far as it could, and that our meat is equally as good as that with the organic tag.

None of our meat is prepared following Halal processes.

No.

We use small, farm-scale, local abattoirs that are within a very short distance to us thereby reducing travelling time.

Do your farmers use antibiotics

Antibiotics are not routinely used by our farms other than where an animal is sick and its welfare requires antibiotic intervention. This is a rare occurrence. The same applies to organic animals where antibiotics will be used with a sick animal.

Yes.

We have ensured that our fresh fish is sustainable and responsibly caught by a trusted group of local fishermen who are based along the coast of Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, run small day-boats and fish in the proper way. With the effects of overfishing impacting our seas, we believe that we should only eat fish that has been responsibly caught from fishing grounds that provide a sustainable marine environment. Which is why we do not buy any fish that has been beam trawled in order to ensure the seabed is protected.

Our fresh fish is rated as sustainable in line with the Marine Conservation Society’s Good Fish Guide, meaning that you can be assured that when you buy fresh fish online for delivery to your home, it’s from locations where stock is plentiful and caught using responsible, ethical fishing methods.

Because we legally have to state the area of the ocean in which our seafood is caught, as defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The whole of the United Kingdom falls within the North East Atlantic being fishing area 27.

Fresh, not previously frozen.

Fish is not available for delivery on Tuesdays.

You can add sustainable fish to your order for delivery on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Yes.

Unfortunately we don’t offer bespoke butchery which may sound inflexible but by offering a bespoke service, we would create a number of interruptions to the processes that we follow in terms of product preparation and timely daily despatch.

The items, and the weights that you see on our website are those that we offer.

These can be found on the individual product pages.

Click on the INGREDIENTS & ALLERGENS, or the NUTRITIONAL INFO tab, email us at [email protected]  or call our Customer Services Team on 01747 811077 and they will be able to answer any questions you may have.

Allergens will also be clearly displayed on the label affixed to each product upon delivery, so check if you have an issue.

To see all the ingredients, click on the INGREDIENTS & ALLERGENS tab on the relevant product page or email us at [email protected].

These can be found on the individual product page and on the product itself upon delivery.

Our meat is cut fresh (see 1 below)  and packed for same-day despatch and next-day delivery to your door.

The individual items in your order will each be vac-packed, put into a foil liner with 4 to 6 500g frozen ice packs, sealed, and then placed into a cardboard box in order to maintain a food safe chilled temperature throughout transit up until delivery. This is good for up to 48 hours after the time of despatch (at around 4.00 p.m. each day).

Each individual item in your order will have the use by date, ingredients and any allergens. These can also be found on the individual products pages by clicking on the INGREDIENTS & ALLERGENS, or the NUTRITIONAL INFO tab, or email us at [email protected] or call our Customer Services Team on 01747 811077 and they will be able to answer any questions you may have.

(i) The greater majority (90%) of our produce is delivered fresh and is suitable for freezing. That includes our fish range.

For those items that have previously been frozen, click the STORAGE tab on each product page which tell you if it has been frozen. These products will have defrosted in transit and cannot be re-frozen.

Yes, but we do offer a nitrate free bacon and will shortly offer a range of nitrate free gammons.

Nitrates are used in the bacon curing processes in order to preserve the product and give it a longer shelf life.

To see all the ingredients that are in our bacon and sausages, click on the INGREDIENTS & ALLERGENS tab on the relevant product page.

No.

Bovaer is currently being trialled in the UK by the Dutch conglomerate Arla in 30 farms supported by Aldi, Morrison and Tesco.  The trial relates to milk only. The Arla trial has nothing to do with the farms that are included in The Dorset Meat Company’s supplier farms. Accordingly, we can confirm that there is no incidence of Bovaer in our meat or dairy products.

Our Christmas Shop opens on Monday 8th September 2025.

Typically, there would be 1 rib for each kilo. Therefore a 3KG Rib would have 3 ribs but sometimes 4 depending on the characteristics of each carcass.

Generally, buy a joint slightly larger that you need to allow for shrinkage. For joints off the bone, allow 200g to 250g per person which means you will need a 2kg joint for 6 people.

With a joint that is on the bone (a forerib of beef, sirloin on the bone), as a general rule you will need 400g per person. Therefore, if you are feeding 4 people, you will need a 2.0kg joint, and a 3.0kg joint for 6 people. Be sure to factor in what else you are serving your guests to accompany your joint and if you would like leftovers.

Please contact us if you are unsure, we are here to offer any advice and guidance you require.

Size of whole bird required:

3 people : 1.6kg

3 to 4 people : 1.8KG – 2kg

4 to 6 people : 2.0kg – 2.3kg

Be sure to factor in what else you are serving your guests to accompany your whole chicken and if you would like leftovers.

It’s fine and you can cook the meat as you would normally. Sometimes meat will produce moisture that collects in the vacuum sealed bag which is wholly natural.

Simply, empty the moisture into your sink.