Is buying a cow worth it?
Yes, buying a cow will help you save money and get better-quality beef.
We compare the cost of beef from our farm to nearby St. Louis grocery stores. With Clover Meadows Beef, the price is approximately $5. 45/pound for all cuts of grass fed beef. This is compared to $7. 03/pound at Walmart, $7. 84/pound at a local St. Louis grocery store, and $9. 86/pound at Whole Foods.
Please note, every farm and beef processor prices beef differently. If you’re not in the St. Louis area, you will have to do your own calculations to determine the price per pound. Louis area and can’t order from our farm.
Buying a sixteenth cow
Here’s what our 22. Image of a 1 cu ft refrigerator with a sixteenth of a cow On our farm, a sixteenth is roughly equal to 25 pounds of beef. 13 lbs of hamburger, 2 Ribeye steaks, 2 Strip steaks, 2 Filet steaks, 2 Sirloin steaks, 1 Short Rib, 1 package of soup bones, 1 package of beef liver, and 1 roast are all included.
Buying a quarter cow
Here’s what our 18. A quarter of a beef, or 110 pounds of beef, fits inside a 1-cubic-foot refrigerator with a freezer on top. Although there is a lot of beef, it all fits in the freezer without the use of an ice bucket or freezer shelf.
The answer varies because each cow is different and weighs something different, but this is how it usually breaks down:
About 50 pounds of ground beef can be made from a quarter, and the remaining 60 pounds of meat can be found as steaks, brisket, roasts, stew meat, ribs, liver, soup bones, etc. Please note that everything depends on the specific cow and the way the beef is cut, but on average, the remaining 60 lbs translates to about 6-7 strip steaks, 6-7 ribeye steaks, 5-6 filets, 5-6 sirloin steaks, 2 short ribs, 4-5 roasts, 1-2 packages of stew meat, 1-2 packages of liver, 1 brisket, and several packages of soup bones.
You also have the choice of purchasing one of each animal part, such as the tongue, oxtail, or heart, for a quarter. These are first-come, first-served based on the person who requests them first because there is only one per animal.
Here’s what our 22. 1 cu ft refrigerator looks like with a quarter cow. Once more, there are 50 pounds of ground beef, and the remaining beef is available in a range of cuts, including steaks, roasts, ribs, and brisket.
Buying a half cow
What happens if you purchase half a cow? You will receive about 220 pounds of beef from a half a cow. 100 pounds of ground beef are included, and the remaining beef is divided up into cuts like steaks, roasts, ribs, brisket, and tenderloin.
To give you some additional perspective, we included a dozen eggs and a half gallon of milk in this picture just for fun.
Buying a whole cow
You could get about 440 pounds of beef from a whole cow. 200 pounds will be ground beef, while the remaining 220 pounds will be in cuts like steaks, roasts, ribs, brisket, tenderloin, etc. For families of three or more who eat beef with four or more meals a week, we’ve discovered that a whole is generally excellent.
Cuts of beef included
When you purchase a cow, you receive different cuts like
- Steaks like filet, sirloin, ribeye, strip, skirt and flank
- Brisket
- Roasts like chuck, sirloin, arm
- Ground beef
- Ribs
- Stew meat
- Kabob meat
- Soup bones
- Organ meat (if desired)
- And the list keeps going on and on!
1 cubic foot of freezer space is recommended as a general rule for every 30-35 lbs of cut and wrapped meat.
That means you’ll definitely want a stand-alone freezer when buying a cow. If you don’t have one yet, you can usually get a good deal at a warehouse store like Sam’s or Costco. We have both chest and upright freezers at our house and we like both of them.
Our biggest piece of advice when buying a stand-alone freezer is to get one with a lock and key. This is very important for child safety reasons and because a physical lock will make sure your freezer is securely closed. You can also purchase an aftermarket lock.
How much beef do you actually get?
You want to know precisely how much beef you’ll put in your freezer when you purchase a cow.
Our farm prices its beef in an all-inclusive manner, which allows us to specify how much beef you’ll receive for a given price. All processing fees are included in our pricing, and delivery to designated pick-up locations in the St. Louis area.
A quarter cow weighs 110 pounds, a half cow 220 pounds, and a whole cow 440 pounds. Since there are no surprises and you know exactly what you’re getting, we’ve decided to sell our beef in this manner because we believe it makes things easier for our customers.
The other method is to estimate the quantity of beef you will freeze using terms from the agricultural sector, such as hang-weight and package-weight. Here are brief definitions for those unfamiliar with these terms:
- A cow’s live weight, also known as “on the hoof,” is how much it weighs when it is moving around and alive. This includes meat, bones, blood, etc.
- After the animal has been killed and all the useless parts, such as the head, skin, and hooves, have been removed, hanging weight (or “on the rail”) is what remains, which consists of the bones and meat. Typically, the hanging weight is about 60% of the live weight
- The total weight of all the packages containing individual cuts of meat that you plan to store in your freezer is known as the “boxed weight,” which is typically around 60% of hanging weight.
What does this mean in plain English if you are informed that it is $3? 75 for each pound of hanging weight, so prepare to pay about $6. 25 per pound ($3. 75 / 0. 60) PLUS the butchering fee, which is usually about $600. 00 for the entire cow (you’ll split this cost with another family if you’re sharing).
No matter who you buy from, make sure you know exactly what you’ll be taking home before you buy so you have adequate freezer space.
Shelf life of frozen beef
Approximately 1-year if frozen and vacuum sealed. If it is wrapped in paper or shrink wrapped, the period of time will be shorter.
Most farmers will let you choose from packaging options like paper, shrink wrap, or vacuum sealing. Because vacuum sealing will keep the beef fresh for longer, we advise doing so.
Here is an illustration of a vacuum-sealed steak.
How do you find a local farm?
So, if you’re in the St. Louis area, do you still want to buy a cow? Louis area, let us know. We are happy to answer any questions you may have.
If you’re outside of St. Read our detailed instructions on how to purchase a cow from a farmer, Louis. It will explain how to locate a farmer, what inquiries to make, and how to determine whether you are receiving a good deal on beef.
Join our weekly e-newsletter where we share farm happenings, recipes, and beef availability if you want to learn more about beef. Before purchasing beef directly from a farmer, register for a cheat sheet with nine questions you simply must ask. Alternatively, we have a whole ebook about beef that examines how to buy and prepare beef from a cattle farmer’s point of view.
Here are a few other links you may like:
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How much for a Whole Cow // Is it worth it // Local Farm Raised Beef #beef #homesteading #localfood
FAQ
How much meat do you get out of a 1200 pound cow?
In conclusion, a 1200 pound steer with 12 inch of fat and average muscling produces a 750 pound carcass. In general, the 750-pound carcass produces 490 pounds of boneless, trimmed beef.
How much beef can you get from 1 cow?
Purchasing a whole cow You would receive about 440 pounds of beef from a whole cow. 200 pounds will be ground beef, while the remaining 220 pounds will be in cuts like steaks, roasts, ribs, brisket, tenderloin, etc.
Is buying half a cow worth it?
In the long run, it is definitely worthwhile to purchase half a cow. If the vacuum-sealed package is not compromised or the meat is not defrosted, it can last for up to two to three years.
How much meat do you get from a 1400 pound cow?
A beef animal weighing 1400 pounds will produce a hot carcass weighing about 880 pounds. Once cooled, the carcass weight will be approximately 840 pounds. There will be about 570 pounds of product to fill your freezer once it has been deboned and trimmed.