How Much Is A Side Of Beef? A Complete Pricing Guide For Buying Half A Cow
For beef lovers and large families, buying a side of beef is one of the best ways to stock up on high-quality meat at wholesale prices. But before taking the plunge, it helps to understand how the pricing works and what exactly you get with a beef half. In this detailed guide, we’ll break down the typical cost per pound and total price range for a side of beef. We’ll also look at how much meat is included, space required, the ordering process, and tips for getting the best deal on your bulk beef purchase.
What Is A Side Of Beef?
A side of beef refers to half of a cow that has been slaughtered and butchered. It includes both front and hind quarters, which are split lengthwise down the backbone into two sides. Each side contains a variety of cuts including popular steaks, roasts, brisket, ribs, and ground beef. A beef side weighs 300-400 lbs and will yield around 120-150 lbs of packaged retail cuts once processed by the butcher. It’s enough meat to supply a family for 4-6 months or more.
Cost Per Pound Of Beef Side
The price you pay per pound for a side of beef depends on a few factors:
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Type of cattle: Grass-fed beef costs $7-$12/lb, grain-finished $5-$8/lb, organic $8-$15/lb
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Butcher fees: Some farms include processing fees, others charge extra
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Amount purchased: Sides are cheaper per lb than individual retail cuts
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Supply & demand Beef prices fluctuate throughout the year
Overall, expect to pay $5-$15 per pound for a beef half, with the national average around $8/lb. Given the quantity, that translates to big savings compared to buying individual steaks and roasts at the grocery store.
Total Cost Of A Side Of Beef
To estimate the total price, take the cost per pound and multiply it by the packaged weight.
For example:
- 350 lb side of beef
- Grass-fed at $10/lb
- Total cost: 350 x $10 = $3,500
Here are typical total costs:
- Conventional grain-fed: $1,500-$2,500
- Grass-fed: $2,500-$4,500
- Organic: $3,500-$6,000
Buying with friends or neighbors helps split the cost. Expect to pay a non-refundable deposit of $200-$500 to order. The balance is due when beef is ready for pickup.
Amount Of Meat & Freezer Space Needed
A typical 350 lb beef side yields around 130-140 lbs of packaged cuts like steaks, roasts, ribs, etc. Here’s a breakdown:
- Steaks: 50 lbs
- Roasts: 35 lbs
- Ground beef: 25 lbs
- Misc cuts: 25 lbs
You’ll need a dedicated chest freezer with 10+ cubic feet of space to store it all.
Popular Cuts In A Side Of Beef
A side contains a variety of high-value steak cuts:
- Ribeyes
- Strip steaks
- Tenderloins
- Top sirloin
- Tri-tip
- Flank steak
Roasts include chuck, rump, brisket, and arm roasts. You also get short ribs, brisket, ground beef, stew meat, soup bones, and liver. The butcher will break it down to your preferences.
Ordering Your Beef Side
Follow these steps when buying a half beef:
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Get quotes from local ranches and butcher shops
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Place a deposit to reserve your beef
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Complete a cut sheet to customize portions
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Pay balance when beef is processed based on hanging weight
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Pick up packaged beef within designated timeframe
Always get clear pricing and weigh your storage and budget before purchasing.
Tips For Saving On A Side Of Beef
Follow these tips to get the best deal:
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Ask about any first-time buyer discounts
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See if they offer price breaks on half vs quarter beef
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Request lower cost cuts like brisket and stew meat
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Buy locally during peak fall/winter season
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Split the cost with friends and share the meat
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Do your own portioning to avoid butcher fees
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Use within 9 months and freeze in meal-size packs
Is A Beef Side Worth It?
The upfront price tag seems intimidating. But the savings per pound make it worthwhile if you have a large chest freezer and consume a lot of beef. You can recoup the cost over time with lower grocery bills. Just be sure to budget accordingly and have a plan to use it all. When bought in bulk, a side of beef provides fantastic quality at affordable prices per pound. It’s a great investment for any meat-loving family.
What To Expect From Your Side of Beef
There is a large range in price due to several things, how big the beef is and if you get additional specialty products made from your beef. Average yields for the specific cuts of beef on a side of beef is based off an average of what people do.
*Your order will be different based on what you choose to do.*
How Much Meat is a Half Beef? Explained in 3 Minutes!
FAQ
How much should I pay for a side of beef?
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? As mentioned above, at $6.00 per pound, a side of beef will cost between $1,200 and $1,800. (Quarter beef is $6.25 per pound, based on the hanging weight).
Is it worth buying a side of beef?
Buying a side of beef is a good choice if you like to cook, you eat a lot of meat, you have storage space, and quality is important to you. The cost savings and peace of mind you’ll have from a full freezer are worth the investment. When we got our tax return, I planned on getting our side of beef for the year.
How much meat comes from a side of beef?
Total Pounds of Meat to Expect
Our whole beef hang at approximately 800-1,000 pounds and our half beef hang at approximately 375-500 pounds. You can expect approximately 600-850 pounds of meat from a whole cow and 250-400 pounds of meat from a half cow, depending on your cut sheet selections.
How long will 200 lbs of beef last?
How much does a side of beef cost?
Expect to pay $6.50 – $16 per pound for a side of beef depending on how it was raised: Organic and grass-fed beef is more expensive because of the higher cost of the cattle, feed, and land. But you’ll get superior flavor and health benefits. A 300 lb side of beef costs $1800-$5000 on average depending on the source.
How much does a side of beef weigh?
A side of beef will weigh around 300-400 lbs. It will be further processed by a butcher into smaller cuts which are then vacuum sealed and frozen for delivery. A side of beef also goes by several other common names: All these terms refer to the same thing – one half of a butchered steer or heifer. What Cuts Are In a Side of Beef?
How much does a split side of beef cost?
According to Wilson Beef Farms, a split side of beef is sold by the hanging weight, which is approximately 150 pounds before trimming and cutting. The cost, which is $4.46 per pound, totals to approximately $669.
How much does a pound of beef cost?
A typical side of beef yields: Multiplying this times per pound price gives you: So you can supply your freezer with premium beef for around $5-$12 per pound —much less than grocery store prices! Law Ranch offers a side of beef based on the dressed hanging weight, with prices ranging from $4.75 to $5.25 per pound.
What is a side of beef?
A Complete Guide to Buying a Half Cow A side of beef, also known as a half cow, refers to one half of a butchered cow. It contains a variety of beef cuts including roasts, brisket, ground beef and popular steaks like ribeye and strip steaks. Read on to learn everything you need to know about buying a side of beef. What Exactly is a Side of Beef?
Should you buy a side of beef?
Here are some excellent benefits of purchasing a side of beef: Saves Money – Bulk pricing results in big savings compared to buying beef by the pound. Food Security – You’ll have a beef supply in your freezer for 6+ months. Wide Variety – You’ll get steaks, roasts, brisket, ribs, ground beef and more.