still considering raw, have questions

[CarrieS]

I posted this first on the general feeding forum, but GMACLEOD suggested I post it here. I am very interested in feeding raw to Sadie, my 7-year-old, and want to continue learning about it before I make that shift.

First, after seeing the movie "Food Inc." this year and reading "The Omnivore's Dilemma," I am very concerned about the production processes for meat and poultry in this country. Most supermarket meats come from producers that feed corn to their animals, so the ultimate consumer is getting lots of corn content, which is precisely what I'm looking to AVOID feeding to my dog. Finding a source for meat that is grass-fed and otherwise raised organically and naturally is challenging enough for my meals, let alone Sadie's. And believe me, I want to feed her as well or better than I feed myself! In other words, I don't want to give her Perdue chicken. I have found a few local farms, but I cannot get to them consistently, and their product is quite expensive -- about $10 a pound.

Second, I have seen mention that feeding raw costs much less than commercial dog food. I calculated the amount I spend per day on Sadie's kibble. A $38 bag lasts about 2 1/2 months, or 75 days, which comes to about 51 cents per day. I cannot see how I can buy enough raw meat for less than that. Even at $1 or $2 a pound, if I feed 2 pounds of raw meat per day, that's still $2 to $4 per day.

I'd appreciate any help and insights on how I might find safe and healthy and reasonably priced sources for raw feeding. Thanks!