the real cost of a half cow
the honest math nobody selling you one will give you — what it costs, what you actually get, and whether it’s worth it for your family. — Ben
all-in price (animal + processing)$1,800–3,500
packaged beef in your freezer180–220 lbs
your take-home price per pound$5.50–9.50/lb
same cuts at the grocery store$10–16/lb
real savings30–50%
the honest part: roughly 40–50% of a half beef arrives as ground and stew meat. you’re stocking a freezer with a year of real dinners — not buying a box of ribeyes. plan on ~8–10 cubic feet of freezer space (a $200–300 chest freezer pays for itself in the first fill).
how it works here: a small refundable deposit reserves your share with a named, verified family ranch. you pay the balance at final weight. no warehouse, no middleman markup.
not ready for a freezer full? start with jerky & boxes, shipped → · or take the 90-second quiz →