Buying in bulk, whether that be a full cow or a half a cow, it is the most cost efficient and affordable way to buy your beef. Whichever option you choose, you can expect that to cost you, on average, $8.50-$9.50 per pound of beef. When buying a cow for meat, there are some important things to remember. Firstly, every cow is different, so the prices will vary based on a number of factors, for example, the weight of the cow. There are three different weights that you should be aware of;
The live weight: The weight of the live cow, just before finishing.
The hanging weight: The hanging weight is the weight that the butcher gives us after the animal has been prepped to hang. The hanging weight is roughly 62% of the live weight and the difference is due to the loss of blood and other inedible parts of the cow.
The final weight: The weight of the meat after it has been hung and cut. This weight varies depending on the amount of fat on the cow and the specific cuts of meat the customer has chosen. If you want to know more about these weight differences and the reasons behind them, check out our piece on Beef Weights – All You Need To Know to find out more.
Cost of Half a Cow
Here at TX Bar, we calculate our costs based on the time it takes to rear the animal, the cost of slaughter and preparation, and finally, the cost of the butcher, who you pay to have the carcass cut and wrapped. Each animal differs because each animal does not weigh exactly the same, but the cost of half a cow from us is $2,000. After factoring in the butchers fees, ($1.50 per lb & $100 harvest fee) you can expect to pay between $2,100-$2,200 on average. When you purchase a half a cow from us, we leave it up to you to choose the specific type of cuts you want and how you want them to be wrapped by our local butcher (Los Molinos Meats, California). You also don’t have to worry about finding someone to purchase the other half of the cow, we look after that for you! To find out exactly how to go about buying half a cow, click here.
Similar to buying a full cow, when you buy half a cow, one of the main benefits is the economies of scale and subsequent savings you will make from buying in bulk. Not to mention the time saved and convenience of having a constant supply of meat in your freezer. Usually half a cow produces on average between 200 and 250 pounds of beef, which averages out to you paying between $8.50-$9.50 a pound. The meat can also last up to 2-3 years when stored properly & the vacuum sealed packages are not comprised. Still not convinced? Check out our piece explaining if buying half a cow worth it, here.
If you have any more questions about how to buy either a full or half a cow, or any queries relating to pricing, please do not hesitate to contact us on (530) 949-4241, where we would be happy to answer any queries you may have.
