Side of Beef Buyers Guide
A Side of Beef gives you and your family food security for months at a time along with a tremendous choice of cuts and at heavily discounted prices.
With food price inflation roaring out of control, there has never been a better time than now to invest in some bulk buying of beef with a side of beef / half cow share.
Today’s article will teach you all you need to know about buying a half cow to ensure you get exactly what you paid for.
Table of Contents
What is a Side of Beef
How much does a Side of Beef Weigh?
Benefits of Buying a Side of Beef
Where to Buy a Side of Beef / Cow Share?
How to Order a Side of Beef
The Difference between Live weight, Hanging weight, and Packaged weight
Cost of a Side of Beef
How to Store Side of Beef: Home Freezer
How Much Freezer Space Do You Need To Hold a Side of Beef?
How Long Will a Side of Beef Last in the Freezer?
How long will it take to eat a Side of Beef / Half Cow?
What cuts are in a Side of Beef?
Conclusion
What is a Side of Beef?
A side of beef is precisely as it sounds, the meat from half of a cow. The specific beef cuts and the weight you get are dependent on the rancher or supplier you select.
Most side of beef suppliers will separate the meat into various cuts, including ground beef, roasts, and iconic steaks like Ribeye and New York Strip.
Some other commonly used names for a side of beef include:
- Half Cow
- CSA Cow Share
- Half Steer
- Beef Bundle
- Locker Beef
You get a lot for your money when buying beef in bulk, so there are a lot of solid reasons to think about investing in a half cow which we will get into further below.
How Much does a Side of Beef Weigh?
There is no set weight standard for a side of beef. Weight varies hugely depening on where you get a quote.
Some ranchers will quote you for half the live weight of a steer while others will have a set weight ( packaged or finished weight) for their side of beef/ half cow offering.
Asking " How much does your Side of Beef weigh?" should be at the very top of your list of questions to ask when getting quotes.
Benefits of Buying a Side of Beef
There are numerous benefits to purchasing a half cow.
1.Save Money: For starters, buying meat in bulk as a CSA Cow Share is highly cost-effective and sustainable. Even though it may cost more upfront, you will save tons of money storing beef in your freezer. Most butchers and online retailers also offer cheaper rates per pound, allowing for greater savings over time.
2. Families: Ideal for large families with lots of mouths to feed on a budget.
3. Carnivore/Paleo Diet: You will have several months of ground beef, roasts, briskets, steaks, and organ meats at hand in your home freezer. This is especially handy and money saving if you are on a meat centric diet like a Paleo Diet or Carnivore Diet.
4. Food security: You will not have to worry about meat shortages, inflation, supply chain issues, or any other factors that increase beef prices at the supermarket. This is especially useful in today’s economy since beef prices have gone up by nearly thirty percent over the past twelve months.
5. Reduces Food Waste: Buying a half cow reduces food waste. Raw beef, once vacuum packaged, including steaks, roasts, and ground beef will last up to twelve months in the freezer. Therefore, you cannot go wrong keeping a half steer handy in your home freezer to enjoy throughout the year slowly.
6. Variety of Cuts: you will get a wide variety of different cuts in a Half Steer, some of which you may not have even tried before so a great oppertunity to try something new.
Not familiar with the main cuts from a Steer? This video below is a very informative and interesting introduction to the world of whole animal butchery.
Where to Buy Side of Beef / Cow Share?
You can buy half cows from craft meat markets, local butchers, local ranchers, or reputable online butchers.
When looking to find where to purchase a side of beef, like everything these days, Google is your best friend here.
Just type in : Side of Beef Near Me or Where to Buy Side of Beef Near me and you should get several results within a few hours of where you live.
In terms of best value, don't always assume a rancher will give you the best deal as most do not have their own USDA processing facility or have the facility to deliver to you, so these costs will be added on and can be quite considerable.
How to Order a Side of Beef
First, you must confirm that your freezer has ample capacity to fit the weight you have been quoted for.
Shop around at different ranchers, butchers or online butchers. It is always good to get several quotes before making any big financial decisions plus you must remember, every half cow share is different.
Here is a comprehensive list of important criteria you need to check for each Side of Beef quote you receive:
- Overall Price per lb.
- How much does the side of beef weigh in total lbs.? Remember, the weight of a Half Cow varies a lot.
- Product Packaging - is it bulk packed or individually vacuum packed?
- Types of cuts on offer from each half cow supplier - is it mostly ground beef or is it a good mix of cuts including the good stuff like tenderloin, strip steaks, and brisket?
- USDA Facility. Are the cattle slaughtered at a USDA-approved and inspected facility?
- Is the Cow Share Beef Grass-Fed or Grass-Finished Beef? 100% Grass-Fed will be more.
- Is the beef Certified Organic Beef?
- Does the farm practice regenerative livestock methods?
- Are there any reviews of the supplier available online you can read?
- Does the quote include delivery to your home?
- Ask to see a copy of the label the meat will be packed with as this also gives good insights into how the cattle was truly raised.
- Cattle’s age and weight at slaughter along with the cattle breed are also important. The best time to harvest steer is between 24 to 40 months for most breeds.
- Is the Half Steer quote based on live weight, hanging weight, or packaged weight? - it is extremly important to understand the differences between each.(see below)
Image above: Ask for a sample of packaging and look for the USDA Facility inspection facility seal on packaging so you know where your CSA Cow Share will be processed
Differences between Live weight, Hanging weight, and Packaged weight when buying a Half Cow
This confuses the heck out of Half Cow Share first-time buyers all the time and without a doubt something everyone needs to know about to avoid being disappointed and avoid any misunderstandings with your supplier:
- Live weight is the actual weight of the live animal prior to slaughter. If for example you are quoted 1,000 lbs. of live weight, you won't receive 1,000 lbs. You will actually only receive about 600 to 700 lbs. Why? see below...
- Hanging Weight or Carcass Weight is the weight of the animal after slaughter when hide, head, blood, intestines, stomach and hooves, are removed but the animal has not been butchered into portion cuts and main bones are still intact.
- Packaged Weight is what you will actually receive after final butchering and packaging.
Many United States-based farmers and butchers provide clients Half Cow quotes based on hanging weight, which may be inaccurate and confusing to first-time buyers as this is not what you will ultimately receive in the final weight.
For this reason, we always suggest getting clear quotes based on packaged weight so you know exactly to the lb. what you are paying for.
Shipping / Delivery Charges. Finally, be sure to ask whether or not shipping is included in the initial rate. Some ranchers and butchers exclude shipping costs from the asking price, resulting in a very expensive side of beef.
Despite a cow share putting an initial dent in your bank account, you will save a huge amount on a per pound basis compared to buying full retail prices so it is well worth doing your homework and get several quotes. Plus you will save a lot of time as it reduces the many trips to the grocery store or farmer’s market and you can plan your food budget.
Cost of a Side of Beef
The cost for a side of beef varies based on several factors with the main factor being how the animal was raised prior to slaughter.
Here is a quick table with the price ranges for a Side of Beef / CSA Cow Share for beef in 3 main systems of farming beef i.e. Grain Finished, Grass-Fed, and Organic Grass-Fed.
For comparison, these rates all :
- Have same cuts for a like for like comparison.
- Processed at USDA Facility
- Final packaged weight
- All cuts cuts are individually vacuum packaged
- Including delivery.
|
Type of Beef |
Weight |
Price Range Per lb. |
|
Conventional Grain Finished |
Packed Weight |
$6.25 to $7.75 per lb |
|
100% Grass-Fed, Grass Finished |
Packed Weight |
$8.40 to $10.50 per lb |
|
Organic & 100% Grass-Fed, Grass Finished |
Packed Weight |
$12 to $16 per lb |
- Beef from organic grass-fed and grass-finished steer tends to be more expensive than from a conventional feedlot steer.
- Organic Grass-Fed cows require extensive, chemical free soil, grassland and forage to graze on, along with other resources such as higher labor which affect the price.
- On the other hand, grain-fed beef is more affordable and accessible. While it is still tasty, there are no guarantees that the cattle were treated to meaningful animal welfare standards without a valid thirty-party certification from the Global Animal Partnership or AWG for example.
- Seasonal changes impact the costs of meat similarly to fresh produce. Beef prices are typically at their lowest in early to mid-Autumn.
- Supply and demand also affect the cost of a half cow. Lately, we have seen a significant increase in overall meat prices due to labor shortages and inflation.
How to Store Side of Beef: Home Freezer
You should always store a side of beef in the freezer, accounting for the number of cuts you receive and space ( cubic feet) you will need.
We suggest setting your freezer to the coldest setting possible, or at least 0 degrees Fahrenheit. The preferred temperature to store meat safely at its optimum is -5 degrees Fahrenheit and below.
Some buyers opt to keep the entire half cow beef bundle in a separate chest freezer to optimize space, though we know that is not an option for everyone.
How Much Freezer Space Do You Need To Store a Half Steer?
We recommend having at least one cubic foot of freezer space per thirty-five to forty pounds of pre-packaged meat that you will receive in your side of beef.
So, a 200-pound half cow would require six cubic feet worth of freezer storage space.
Image: here is a handy guide to help you visualize what just one cubic foot of freezer space will look like.
If you are pinched on space but still want to reap the benefits of buying in bulk, split the cost with friends and family or go for a smaller Quarter Cow.
We often sell Half Cows and Quarter Cows to customers who split it with neighbors.
Not only is this solution a budget-friendly way to purchase meat, but it reduces your carbon footprint if you buy from a regenerative source and saves a lot of car journeys to a grocery store over the coming months.
How Long Will a Side of Beef Last in the Freezer?
Side of beef that has all its cuts individually vacuum packaged,will keep for approximately one year in the freezer. However, loosely packaged beef lasts for only three to four months.
The optimum longevity and freshness of your Beef Bundle is dependent on how the cuts are packaged and the way it is stored.
Try to source your half cows from trusted sources like TruBeef Organic that individually portion and vacuum seal each beef cut. This eliminates additional work for you, allowing for an effortless meat shopping experience.
Image: Vacuum packaging is by far the best way to keep your half cow cuts stored in the freezer.
How long will it take to eat a Side of Beef / Half Cow?
This will depend entirely on two factors:
1. How many total lbs. did you receive in your half cow and
2. How much beef will you eat per day or week from your half cow home freezer.
Let's assume you received exactly 500 lbs. in your csa cow share and you plan to eat a combined 14 lbs. per week of steak, ground beef, and other cuts from your half cow.
This will last you 35 weeks or thereabouts. Not bad compared to what you would pay if you were paying full retail prices per lb for this weekly beef consumption.
What Cuts are in a Side of Beef?
The best part of purchasing a half cow is the massive array of cuts you should receive. Always be sure to check as to what you will get to avoid dissapointment.
Image Credit: foodfirefriends.com
Avoid Half Steer deals that are mostly ground beef as you will be paying for some very expensive ground beef on a per lb. basis.
Look for a nice mix of portioned cuts including steaks, burgers, roasts, briskets, bones, ground beef, and even organ meats so you get a wide array of nutrition for your family.
Most sides of beef contain anything from 200 lbs to 1,400 lbs worth of meat and when portioned up and vacuum packaged, you have an amazing and convenient source of meat for months right in your own home freezer. Talk about a bang for your buck!
Below is a list of the cuts you should look to receive in a typical Side of Beef:
- Chuck Roast
- Beef Broth Bones
- Marrow Bones
- Burger Patties
- Whole Brisket
- Picanha / Coulotte
- Top Round
- Organ Meats
- Ancestral Blend Ground Beef and Organs
- Oxtail
- Kidney
- Flank Steak
- Ground Beef
- Filet Mignon
- Top Sirloin Steaks
- New York Strip Steaks
- T-Bone Steaks
- Ribeye or Tenderloin
Conclusion
- Side of Beef is also known as Half Cow, CSA Cow Share, Half Steer, Beef Bundle or Locker Beef.
- Side of Beef weight varies greatly between suppliers.
- Investing in a Half Cow will save you money.
- No Half Cow quote is the same so do your homework and learn how to differenciate.
- Ensure your CSA Cow Share is processed and packed at a USDA inspected facility.
- The cost of Side of Beef varies greatly depending on how the animal was raised priod to slaughter.
- Store your Half Cow in the freezer.
- Ensure your cuts are vacuum packaged for freshness.
- When storing saide of beef in freezer, you will need 1 cubic foot of space for every 35 to 40 lbs.