How Much Beef Should I Buy?

If you're considering purchasing a side of beef but are unsure where to begin, the following guide will provide you with all the information you need to know about ordering a whole, half, or quarter beef package.
​
The Bulk Beef Buying Toolkit from Our Good Meat Guide aims to assist you in understanding the complexities of purchasing a whole cow or a share. Within this toolkit, you will find straightforward visuals that address key areas such as typical cuts and quantities, the relationship between carcass weight and usable meat, and the required freezer capacity.

​Prior to placing a bulk order, it is crucial to have a clear understanding of the different weight measures and how they impact the overall cost of your purchase. For first-time buyers who are unfamiliar with these weight measures, it can come as a surprise that the weight of the meat they receive (boxed weight) differs from the weight of the animal prior to butchering (live weight) and during the dry-aging process (hanging weight). To avoid any confusion, we strongly advise you to acquaint yourself with the following information and feel free to ask any questions before making your purchase.

Live weight refers to the weight of the animal while it is still alive and walking around.

Hanging weight, on the other hand, represents the weight of the butchered animal as it hangs in the locker to undergo the dry-aging process. It is important to note that hanging weight does not include certain parts such as the head, hide, hooves, blood, and innards, as these have already been removed.

Lastly, boxed weight refers to the net weight of the meat that is packaged and ready for storage in your freezer. This weight is reduced due to the removal of fat, connective tissue, bone, and other trimmings, as well as the moisture lost during the dry aging process. The boxed weight can vary depending on the specific cuts of meat included and any additional package options, such as bones, fat, and offal.

As per GADA regulations, customers are billed based on the live weight and hanging weight, rather than the boxed weight. It is worth noting that the percentage of weight lost from hanging weight to boxed weight typically falls within the range of 30% to 45%. However, it is important to acknowledge that different websites and farms may indicate varying amounts, ranging from 25% to 50%. The exact percentage can differ from producer to producer and is influenced by factors such as the animal's individual composition, the butcher's techniques, and the specific cuts chosen. Should you have any further inquiries, our team is more than happy to provide assistance and address any concerns you may have.

​Whole Beef Package
For a whole beef package, which is ideal for larger families or when pooling resources with other families, you can expect approximately 400 pounds of boxed weight (800 pounds of hanging weight). This amount of meat will fill around 7 standard apple boxes and require about 13-14 cubic feet of freezer space. The standard cut of a whole beef package includes various cuts such as chuck, rib steak/prime rib, rump roast, round, sirloin tip, top sirloin, tenderloin, steak (T-Bone and/or NY Strip), flank/skirt steak, brisket, fajita strips, stew meat, boneless stew meat, short ribs, soup bones, oxtail, ground beef, and bones (knuckle, marrow).

Half Beef Package
A half beef package is a great option for filling your freezer or sharing with loved ones. Typically weighing around 198 pounds boxed weight (275 pounds hanging weight), this package will require 6-7 cubic feet of freezer space and will fill 4 standard apple boxes.

Half orders can be customized to suit your preferences. The standard cut includes a variety of cuts such as chuck, rib steak, rump roast, round, sirloin tip, top sirloin, tenderloin, steaks (T-Bone and/or NY Strip), flank/skirt steak, brisket, soup bones, fajita steak strips, boneless stew meat, short ribs, oxtail, ground beef, and bones (knuckle, marrow).

Quarter Beef Package a.k.a. Split Half
he Split Half, also known as a quarter beef package, is an ideal choice for a family of two looking to enjoy beef throughout the year. With an average boxed weight of 100 pounds, this package offers a variety of standard cuts that include chuck roast, rib steak, round steak, sirloin tip steak, T-bone steak, and more. It requires approximately 3.5 cubic feet of freezer space, which is about the size of two standard cardboard apple boxes. Please note that custom cutting is not available for this package.

It's important to keep in mind that while we provide you with the average weight of the beef for estimation purposes, each animal is unique, so the actual weight of your meat may vary slightly. This will be reflected in the final price, which includes the butchering fee and the first two weeks of freezer storage. Whether you opt for the Split Half or the Eighth Package, you can look forward to enjoying high-quality beef that is sure to satisfy your taste buds.

​Ordering Our Beef

• Single order: If beef is what’s for dinner at your house, then this is for you! Many of our customers select a whole beef every year, whether it's all for them, like we do in our family, or they are splitting it with another family, the whole beef is your very best value.
• Group Order: Best deal for a group of 2, 4, or 8 families to split. $100 Bonus Discount for Group Cow Share Organizer/Buying Club host.

• ​Sharing?  Split Your Whole Beef into (2) 1/2s or 1/4s for no additional charge.

On Sale

On Sale

1/4 Cow Share Bundle

$1,500.00 $1,400.00

Shop

Half Beef | Custom Cut

$1,200.00

Shop

Whole Cow | Custom Cut

$2,400.00

Shop