How Many Pounds in a Quarter Beef? The Complete Guide

Buying a quarter beef can be an economical and convenient way to stock up your freezer with high-quality cuts of meat. But before taking the plunge, it’s important to understand exactly what a “quarter beef” entails and how to make the most of your purchase. In this complete guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about buying a quarter beef cow, including

What is a Quarter Beef?

A quarter beef refers to one-fourth of a butchered cow carcass. This is an ideal portion size for many families to purchase directly from a rancher or farmer. The term “quarter” refers to the fact you are buying roughly one-quarter of the entire animal.

How Many Pounds of Meat in a Quarter Beef?

The amount of take-home meat from a quarter beef can vary, but on average you can expect 100-160 pounds of packaged cuts The exact amount depends on the size of the animal, how it was fed and raised, and how you customize the cutting instructions. For example, if you ask the butcher to leave the bones in roasts and steaks, you’ll get a higher poundage but less usable meat.

Here’s a quick overview of how much meat is typically yielded from beef shares

• Quarter beef: 100-160 lbs
• Half beef: 200-300 lbs
• Whole beef: 400-600 lbs

So if you purchase a quarter from a 1,500 lb steer, you’ll likely get 130-150 lbs of meat for your freezer.

Breakdown of Cuts in a Quarter Beef

A quarter beef allows you to get a nice variety of premium steaks, roasts, and ground meat. Here is an approximate breakdown of the cuts you can expect:

• Chuck roast: 14-16 lbs
• Arm roast: 8 lbs
• Sirloin tip roast: 3-4 lbs
• Rump roast: 3-4 lbs
• Ribeye steaks/roast: 3-4 lbs
• Round/cube/Swiss steak: 8-10 lbs
• Sirloin steak: 8-10 lbs
• T-bone or NY strip steaks: 4 lbs
• Ground beef: 40 lbs
• Organ meat and bones

The final tally of cuts will depend on your custom cutting instructions to the butcher. For example, you can request thicker steaks or all roasts to be ground into hamburger.

How Much Freezer Space is Needed?

You’ll need ample freezer space to store a quarter beef. The general guideline is to allow about 1 cubic foot of freezer space per 15-20 lbs of meat.

So for a 130 lb quarter beef, you would need roughly 7 cubic feet of freezer space. Some upright freezers are about 7 cubic feet, while chest freezers can range from 5-20+ cubic feet.

Make sure you have enough room in your freezer before purchasing a quarter cow. You may need to eat down your existing frozen foods to free up space.

Cost Comparison to Buying Meat at the Grocery Store

Purchasing a quarter beef directly from a farmer is almost always cheaper than buying cuts of meat individually from the grocery store. When you buy a whole animal, you get steaks, roasts, and ground beef for around the same price per pound.

Consider the fact that you are getting premium cuts like ribeyes, New York strip steaks, and tenderloin for ground beef prices. If you were to purchase the same quality of meat at a grocery store, you would spend significantly more per pound.

And since you buy the whole quarter upfront, the price per pound is locked in even as beef prices fluctuate. Direct purchasing eliminates the grocery store markup on meat.

Tips for Ordering Your Quarter Beef

When ordering a quarter beef, here are some helpful tips:

• Find a trusted local rancher or farmer. Ask for references and inspect their practices.

• Place your order well in advance – often 3-6 months ahead. This gives the farmer time to coordinate.

• Specify your ideal thickness for steaks and roasts. Also indicate any cuts you do not want.

• Request extra bones, organ meat, and fat trimmings if desired. These can make excellent broth, dog treats, and tallow.

• Make sure to have adequate freezer space cleared out and ready for the beef.

• Ask about pickup locations and timing. You will need to transport the frozen meat to your freezer ASAP.

• Expect to pay a deposit upfront, with the balance due at pickup after processing.

Is Buying a Quarter Beef Worth It?

For families that eat a lot of red meat, buying a quarter beef can be an extremely cost-effective way to keep your freezer stocked. You get delicious, locally-raised beef at a fraction of the grocery store price. It also simplifies meal planning and cooking to have so much meat ready to go.

However, the large upfront cost and freezer space required make this option unrealistic for some. And you do need to be comfortable cooking grilled and roasted beef dishes to make the most of the roasts and steaks.

Overall, purchasing a quarter beef provides high-quality meat your whole family will enjoy while supporting local farmers. Just be sure to do some planning and calculations in advance to determine if buying a quarter cow fits your family’s needs and budget.