Half Cow for Sale: Cost, Cuts & How It Works
Buying a half cow is one of the best ways to stock your freezer with 100% grass-fed beef at a lower per-pound cost than retail. Here's everything you need to know before you buy.
What Does a Half Cow Cost?
For 100% grass-fed beef, expect to pay $800–$1,400 for a half cow depending on the farm, your region, and the time of year. This typically includes the beef at a negotiated per-pound rate, with processing fees sometimes billed separately by the butcher.
Understanding the Pricing Terms
- Live weight:The animal's weight on the hoof. You'll rarely pay this way directly.
- Hanging weight (HW):Weight after slaughter and before butchering, the most common pricing basis for farm-direct purchases. Grass-fed half cows typically hang at 275–350 lbs. At $4–5/lb HW, that's $1,100–$1,750 before processing.
- Finished / take-home weight: What you actually bring home after butchering, roughly 55–65% of hanging weight (180–240 lbs for a half). This is the most useful number for comparing total cost per pound.
- Processing fee: Paid separately to the butcher, typically $0.75–$1.25/lb hanging weight ($200–$440 extra). Always ask if this is included.
When you calculate cost per pound of take-home beef, a half cow from a direct farm typically comes to $5.50–$9/lb all-in, significantly less than buying equivalent cuts retail or through a subscription box.
What Cuts Do You Get?
The exact cut sheet varies by butcher and your preferences, most farms let you customize things like thickness, roast size, and whether to include organ meats and bones. Here's a typical breakdown for a 200-lb half cow:
| Cut Category | Approximate Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | 75–90 lbs | The largest portion; ideal for everyday cooking |
| Steaks | 25–35 lbs | Ribeye, NY strip, T-bone, sirloin, flank |
| Roasts | 25–35 lbs | Chuck, round, sirloin tip, arm roast |
| Short Ribs & Back Ribs | 10–15 lbs | Braising and smoking cuts |
| Brisket | 5–10 lbs | Whole brisket, perfect for smoking low-and-slow |
| Stew Meat | 10–15 lbs | Pre-cut from the tougher braising sections |
| Soup Bones & Marrow | 10–15 lbs | Included if requested; great for bone broth |
Amounts vary by animal size, fat trim, and your cut sheet preferences. Ask your farm for their specific cut sheet before ordering.
Freezer Space Required
Plan for 10–14 cubic feet of dedicated freezer spacefor a half cow. A standard chest freezer (7 cu ft) won't cut it, you'll want a 15–20 cu ft chest freezer to comfortably fit a half cow with room to organize.
Tip: A good-quality 7 cu ft chest freezer costs $150–$200 new. At grass-fed beef savings of $2–4/lb, a half cow pays for the freezer many times over.
How the Process Works
Where to Buy a Half Cow
These suppliers from our directory offer bulk purchases including half and whole cow options for 100% grass-fed beef.
White Oak Pastures
Bluffton, Georgia
Offers half & whole cow bulk orders
Crowd Cow
USA, Uruguay & Japan (farm-specific)
Offers half & whole cow bulk orders
US Wellness Meats
Missouri & Midwest USA
Offers half & whole cow bulk orders
Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed
Midwest, Northeast & West USA (50+ farms)
Offers half & whole cow bulk orders