"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." - Thomas Edison....
Daughter and Son-In-Law also got tired of low prices at stock yards and high prices at the meat counter. Last year they sold 9 steers/heifers off the farm to family, friends, coworkers. Killed 3 per weekend for 3 weekends. Hauled quarters to the processors. Already had customer cut sheets at the processors when quarters arrived. Customers paid them based on hanging weight at the processor. Customers paid processor per-determined cost per pound for cut and wrap. Everyone went away happy.
Yes, they had to line up the customers. Yes, they had people back out. Yes, they had to schedule the open windows with the processors 6-12 months in advance. Yes, they had to arrange the kill man, and cleanup of hides and offal after the kills. But, they about doubled their net-net versus sending same animals through the stock yards. Their are planning to kill 14-15 animals this year off the farm.
Selling straight off the farm ain't for everyone. However, for folks who are not locked into "This is how we've always done it", there are some opportunities to split the mark up with non-producers and keep some of additional profit on the home farm.
