Frequently Asked Questions
How much freezer space do I need?
You will need a freezer with 7-10 cubic feet to store half of a steer. Your meat will be frozen, labelled and vacuum packed. You may also want baskets or partitions in the freezer to help separate the cuts of meat. Since your beef is vacuum packaged, it will last up to 12 months in your freezer.
How much meat will I get?
Generally, you will receive 200 - 220 lbs of meat from half a steer. But it depends on the size of the animal and butchering style. There are 3 weights you should know about.:
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Live weight is how much the cow weights when it’s alive, on the hoof.
Hanging Weight (or carcass weight) is the weight once the anmial has been killed. The hanging weight is usually about 60% of the live weight. The hanging weight is the most consistent way to measure the beef before getting into customizing the cuts.
Packaged Weight is how much you take home after it has been packaged. This is usually 60% of the hanging weight. The difference comes from water & bone loss.
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How much will half a cow cost?
You will be charged $5.50/lb based on the hanging weight of the cow. For example, if a steer's hanging weight is 690 lbs than half a cow’s hanging weight is 345 lbs. The hanging weight is the weight the processor uses to charge us for cutting & vacuum wrapping. We cover all the processing fees. The hanging weight is the most consistent way to measure the beef before getting into customizing the cuts. You will pay $5.50/lb based on the hanging weight of 345 lbs or $1,898 for half a cow.
Do you use any additives in your feed?
No, our cattle are grass fed and grain finished. There are NO growth hormones, steroids or other additives given to our cows.