Buying A Half Cow. How Much Beef Is It? (video)

Thinking About Buying a Half Cow? Start Here.

Have you ever wondered what it really means to buy a half cow (also called a side of beef) or even a whole cow? It’s one of the best ways to stock up your freezer with high-quality, farm-raised, local beef – and save too! But it can also feel very confusing the first time around.

We’re 5th-generation cattle farmers, and we’ve sold thousands of pounds of beef from our farm. In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how much beef you get, what it typically costs, how much freezer space you’ll need, what cuts are included, and explain grass fed beef vs grain-fed beef. Then, once you have all this information, you can make an educated decision on whether buying a half cow is right for your family.

Jump to:

• Thinking About Buying a Half Cow? Start Here.
• Why Buy a Half Cow (or Whole Cow)?
• How Much Meat Do You Get When Buying a Cow?
• Buying a Quarter Cow: What You Get
• VIDEO – See a Quarter Cow in a Refrigerator
• Buying a Half Cow (Side of Beef): How Much Meat Is It?
• Buying a Whole Cow: What You Get
• Price of a Half Cow, Quarter Cow, Whole Cow
• How Much Freezer Space Do You Need?
• How Long Does Frozen Beef Last?
• What Cuts of Meat Do you Get?
• What Type of Cow Should I Buy: Grain Fed Beef vs Grassfed Beef?
• How to Buy a Cow (Step-by-Step)
• FAQ
• Join us!

Why Buy a Half Cow (or Whole Cow)?

When you buy a half cow directly from a local farmer instead of your local butcher, you get premium beef cuts – from ground beef to steaks and brisket – for a lower price per pound. It’s one of the smartest ways to fill your freezer, customize your butchered cuts of meat, skip the inflated grocery store price, know where your food comes from and how it’s raised, and support local farmers.

If you’ve ever searched “half cow near me” or “buying a cow for meat”, this is exactly what you’re looking for – a direct relationship with a local cattle farmer.

How Much Meat Do You Get When Buying a Cow?

Whether you buy a quarter, half or whole cow, your local farmer should be able to provide a fairly accurate estimate on the take-home beef. The more you buy, the lower the price per pound. Here’s a general guideline for bulk meat purchases:

Portion	Pounds of Take Home Beef	Freezer Space Needed	Average Family Use
1/8 Cow	~55 lbs	2-3 cu ft	1-2 months
1/4 Cow	~110 lbs	4-5 cu ft	2-3 months
1/2 Cow	~220 lbs	8-10 cu ft	4-6 months
Whole Cow	~440 lbs	16-20 cu ft	8-12 months

Depending on the ranch where you purchase your beef, each package includes a mix of steaks, roasts, ribs, brisket, and ground beef. Sometimes, organ meats are soup bones are included too.

Farm Tip: If you buy a quarter or half, it’s sometimes called a beef share.

Buying a Quarter Cow: What You Get

A quarter cow equals roughly 110 lbs of beef. With this option, you share the cow’s beef with other families. Here’s a typical breakdown of the beef cuts:

• ~50 pounds ground beef
• 6-7 New York Strip Steaks
• 6-7 Ribeye Steaks
• 5-6 Filet Steaks
• 5-6 Sirloin Steaks
• 4-5 Roasts (chuck, arm, sirloin or rump)
• 2 Short Ribs
• 1 Brisket
• Stew Meat, Soup Bones, and optional organ meats

VIDEO – See a Quarter Cow in a Refrigerator

Buying a Half Cow (Side of Beef): How Much Meat Is It?

When you buy a half cow, you receive about 200-250 pounds of finished beef that you will put in yoru freezer. HEre’s how it typically works out:

• 40-50 pounds of steak cuts (Ribeye, Filet, Sirloin, Strip Steak)
• 50-50 pounds of roast cuts (Chuck, Rump, Arm, Sirloin)
• 90-100 pounds of ground beef
• 10-20 pounds of other cuts (short ribs, stew meat, brisket, etc.)

A half cow feeds most families of 3-5 people for about 6-7 months, depending on how often you cook beef.

Buying a Whole Cow: What You Get

A whole cow gives you the full animal, which is about 400-450 pounds of take-home freezer beef. It offers the lowest cost per pound of beef. You get double the cuts of a half cow (above), and you can customize the butcher instructions:

• steak thickness
• roast sizes
• how many pounds of ground beef per package
• bone-in or boneless options
• keep or decline the organ meats.

Price of a Half Cow, Quarter Cow, Whole Cow

Prices vary depending on your local farm and market, but here’s a very rough guideline:

Portion	Average Price	Cost per Pound (Take-Home Weight)
Quarter Cow	$700-850	$7.00-$8.50/lb
Half Cow	$1,300-1,600	$6.50-$7.00/lb
Whole Cow	$2,400-$3,00	$6.00-$6.50/lb

To understand is buying a cow worth it, divide the total cost by the take-home pounds.You’ll often find that your price per pound — including steaks — is less than the cost of grocery-store ground beef.

Understanding Hanging Weight vs Take-Home Weight

When shopping, ALWAYS confirm if the farm charges by hanging weight or take-home packaged weight. Terms like beef hanging weight vs packaged weight can seem confusing at first, but they’re VERY important to understand.

• Live Weight: The cow’s weight before butchering.
• Hanging Weight: After slaughter, with head, hide, and organs removed (~60% of live weight).
• Boxed or Take-Home Weight: The final packaged meat you store in your freezer (~60% of hanging weight).

Example: If a farm charges $3.75 per pound hanging weight, your true cost will be closer to $6.25 per pound, plus processing fees (typically around $600 per cow)

How Much Freezer Space Do You Need?

The rule of thumb is 1 cubic foot of freezer space for every ~30 lbs of cut and wrapped meat. A standard upright or chest freezer will easily hold a half cow.

Portion	Take Home Beef	Freezer Size Needed
1/4 Cow	~110 lbs	4-5 cu ft
1/2 Cow	~220 lbs	8-10 cu ft
Whole Cow	~440 lbs	16-20 cu ft

Farm Tip: Select a freezer with a lock and key to ensure the door stays fully sealed — it’s important for child safety and making sure your beef stays frozen.

How Long Does Frozen Beef Last?

When properly vacuum-sealed, beef lasts about one year in the freezer. If it’s wrapped in paper or shrink wrap, the shelf life is shorter.

For best results, choose vacuum-sealed packaging. Also, be sure to label packages with dates and cut types.

What Cuts of Meat Do you Get?

When you purchase a half or whole cow, you receive a variety of cuts from different parts of the cow. You’re not just getting meat from the front or back half – you get cuts of meat from all different parts of the animal.

• Ground Beef
• Roast (Chuck, Arm, Round, Rump)
• Brisket
• Steak (Ribeye, T-Bone, Tenderloin/Filet Mignon, Strip Steak (NY Strip / KC Strip), Sirloin, Flank, Skirt, Tri-Tip Steak)
• Ribs
• Stew Meat
• Offal (Beef tongue, heart, liver and tallow)
• Soup Bones