Bulk Grassfed Beef Pricing - Half, Quarter & Whole Cow Shares
Bulk beef, priced in the open. Hanging weight, deposits, estimated balances, and yield on half, quarter, and whole cow shares.
How We Price Your Grassfed Bulk Beef Share
Texas Grass Fed Farms sells bulk beef as half, quarter, and whole cow shares, priced per pound of hanging weight, with pickup in McKinney, Texas. Every animal comes from our partner ranchers on Texas pasture. Grassfed and grass-finished, never grain-finished.
Your share is priced on hanging weight, also called hot carcass weight or HCW. That's the weight of the carcass right off the scale at harvest, before aging, trimming, and cutting. It's the standard for bulk beef because it's objective and verifiable, and it comes from the processor, not from us.
Most producers who sell bulk beef price this way. Not all of them show you the math. Here it is, with example numbers from our program.
The numbers on this page are examples, not quotes. Beef is a commodity, and our rates move with the market. Every price, weight, total, and deposit shown here is an illustration of how bulk pricing works, based on our rates as of August 14, 2026. They will change over time, and some may already be out of date by the time you read this.
Your actual price is always the current price shown on the product page for your share and confirmed at checkout. When you place your deposit, that per-pound rate locks in for your animal, and only the weight moves after that. Nothing on this page is a quote, an offer, or a guarantee of price or final cost.
What hanging weight means for your bulk beef order
Buying beef in bulk means buying a share of one animal, not a case of packages off a pallet. An animal gets weighed three times on the way to your freezer, and each number is smaller than the last. Live weight is what the animal weighs on the hoof. Hanging weight is the carcass after harvest. Take-home weight is what actually goes in your freezer after the meat is aged, trimmed, cut, and wrapped.
Here's an example, using round numbers to show how the weights break down.
| Stage | Weight | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Live weight | 1,350 lbs | On the hoof |
| Hanging weight (HCW) | 650 lbs | Weighed at harvest |
| Estimated take-home beef | ~325 lbs | About 50% of hanging weight |
Every price below is per pound of hanging weight. The rates shown are examples current as of August 14, 2026 and can change with the market; the price on each product page is always the live one. Your rate locks the day you place your deposit. Only the weight moves.
How ordering works
We run on a monthly cycle. Order by the 15th and your share goes into that month's batch, with pickup the following month.
The 15th does two jobs. It's the order cutoff, and it's the lock-in date. Before the 15th you can cancel for any reason and we refund your deposit in full to the card you paid with. After the 15th your share is committed, matched with other buyers to make up a whole animal, and scheduled for processing, so the order can't be cancelled or changed. Full terms are in our Refund & Cancellation Policy.
We generally need at least four shares to fill a batch. If a batch doesn't reach that number we may move it to the following month or cancel it, and if we do, we move your deposit forward or refund everything you've paid, whichever you prefer.
From there, fulfillment runs about four to six weeks. That window covers finishing the cattle, scheduling and delivering to the processor, harvest, aging, cutting, packaging, and our pickup from the plant. Timing depends on how many animals are in the batch and on the processor's schedule, so we confirm your pickup date once your batch is scheduled.
Half cow share price
The half is the most common bulk beef order we fill. You get exactly half the carcass, split down the spine, and both sides carry the same cuts.
| Half cow share (example) | Estimated (650 lb HCW animal) |
|---|---|
| Your hanging weight portion | 325 lbs |
| Example price per lb hanging weight | $9.75 |
| Estimated total | $3,169 |
| Deposit at checkout | $1,650 |
| Estimated balance after harvest | $1,519 |
| Estimated take-home beef | ~162 lbs |
Example only, based on rates as of August 14, 2026. For current pricing, see the Half Cow product page.
Typical range for a half cow
Your half of a 600 to 700 lb animal comes in around 300 to 350 lbs hanging. At the example rate, that puts your total at roughly $2,925 to $3,412, with a balance after deposit of about $1,275 to $1,762. A lighter animal means a smaller balance and less beef. A heavier one means more beef and a bigger balance. These figures move with our current rate, which is shown on the product page.
Quarter cow share price
You get one quarter of the carcass. This is the right starting point for most families who haven't bought in bulk before.
| Quarter cow share (example) | Estimated (650 lb HCW animal) |
|---|---|
| Your hanging weight portion | 162.5 lbs |
| Example price per lb hanging weight | $10.00 |
| Estimated total | $1,625 |
| Deposit at checkout | $850 |
| Estimated balance after harvest | $775 |
| Estimated take-home beef | ~81 lbs |
Example only, based on rates as of August 14, 2026. For current pricing, see the Quarter Cow product page.
Typical range for a quarter cow
Your quarter of a 600 to 700 lb animal runs about 150 to 175 lbs hanging. At the example rate, total comes to roughly $1,500 to $1,750, with a balance after deposit of about $650 to $900. Your current rate is shown on the product page.
Whole cow share price
You get the entire carcass. Best rate per pound, biggest freezer requirement.
| Whole cow share (example) | Estimated (650 lb HCW animal) |
|---|---|
| Your hanging weight portion | 650 lbs |
| Example price per lb hanging weight | $9.50 |
| Estimated total | $6,175 |
| Deposit at checkout | $3,200 |
| Estimated balance after harvest | $2,975 |
| Estimated take-home beef | ~325 lbs |
Example only, based on rates as of August 14, 2026. For current pricing, see the Whole Cow product page.
Typical range for a whole cow
Most whole animals hang between 600 and 700 lbs, so at the example rate your total runs about $5,700 to $6,650. Balance after deposit lands somewhere around $2,500 to $3,450. The live rate is always on the product page.
Deposit now, balance after harvest
You reserve your share with a deposit, and that deposit applies toward your total. Nothing else is due until the animal is processed.
Once the hanging weight is confirmed at the plant, we calculate your exact total and send you a second invoice for the balance. You pay it by entering your card on that invoice. We don't store your card and we don't charge it automatically.
Your balance is due within 3 business days of that invoice, and always before your pickup day. Your share is released once the balance is paid, and we don't release partial orders.
Why your take-home weight is less than your hanging weight
The gap between hanging weight and what you carry home is called yield. Moisture evaporates during aging. Fat gets trimmed. Bones come out or stay in depending on how you fill out your cut sheet. Grass-finished beef in our program typically yields 50 to 55% of hanging weight as take-home meat.
This is true at every USDA-inspected processor in the country. Anyone quoting you a price per pound of meat in your freezer is working backward from this same math. They're just not showing it to you.
Bone-in cuts change the picture too. Keep the bones on your short ribs and shanks and your take-home number climbs, because bone is weight. Bone-in cuts carry no extra charge. Soup bones packaged on their own are a separate item, priced at $1.00/lb for the cutting and packaging, and those bones make the best grassfed beef bone broth you'll ever taste.
What's included, and what costs extra
Standard cut, packaging, and freeze is included in your price per pound. So is everything that comes off the animal as a standard cut. Everything is packaged one per pack, and your ground beef comes as either 1 lb vacuum-sealed packs or 2 lb chubs, your choice on the cut sheet.
Two things cost extra, and they're different from each other.
Value-added products are sausage, flavored ground beef, hamburger patties, and beef bacon. These are available on half and whole shares only, with a 25 lb minimum per sausage variety and per flavored ground beef variety. They're priced separately, shown as their own line on your invoice, and they can't be refunded once production starts. Here's the part people don't expect: sausage, flavored ground, and patties are all made from ground beef, so every pound you order is a pound of ground you don't get back. A half yields roughly 75 lbs of ground in total, which three varieties at 25 lbs each would use up entirely.
Extra processing covers soup bones at $1.00/lb and hamburger patties at $0.75/lb. That charge is for labor, not for the beef, which you've already paid for by the hanging pound. Bones packaged on their own and patties formed and wrapped both take work beyond standard cut, wrap, and freeze.
Who gets a cut sheet
The cut sheet is per side of beef. A half is one side and one sheet. A whole is two sides and two sheets, so you can cut them differently if you want.
Two quarter buyers share a single side, which is why quarters come as our standard selection with nothing to fill out. What's in a quarter is published on the quarter cow product page so you know exactly what you're getting before you order.
If you're buying a half or a whole, we email your cut sheet as soon as your deposit goes through. It's due back by the 22nd, seven days after the order cutoff, and you can scan it or photograph it and send it to orders@texasgrassfedfarms.com. If we don't hear from you by the 22nd we apply our standard cut sheet so your batch stays on schedule. Once you submit it, selections are final, because the processor schedules against them.
Work through our grass fed beef cuts guide before you fill it out. It'll save you a lot of second-guessing.
Why smaller shares cost more per pound
A quarter costs more per hanging pound than a whole. That isn't a convenience markup. Matching multiple buyers to one animal and sorting their shares after we pick up from the processor takes administrative work and handling that a whole share doesn't. Every step down in size adds more of it.
How to buy grass fed beef in bulk without guessing
Bulk beef confuses people because every producer quotes it differently. Some price on hanging weight. Some price on take-home pounds. Some quote a flat package price and never tell you what's in it. All three can describe the same animal at the same real cost.
Three questions sort it out fast. What weight is the price based on? What's included in the processing fee? And what happens if the animal comes in lighter or heavier than the estimate?
If a producer can't answer all three in plain English, that's your answer. The example math on this page is here so you can compare us against anyone else selling bulk grass fed beef in Texas and do the numbers yourself, using our current rate from the product page.
What you're actually buying
A share isn't a bulk discount on ground beef. On a half or a whole you get the animal's worth of cuts in proportion: steaks, roasts, ground, brisket, short ribs, and bones. A quarter comes as our standard selection, which covers the steaks, roasts, brisket, stew meat, and ground beef, and leaves out some of the specialty cuts. The quarter page lists exactly what's in and what isn't.
Either way the ribeyes and the ground beef come at the same per-pound rate, which is where the value lives. Nobody sells you grassfed ribeye at ground beef prices any other way.
How our beef is processed
Our processor uses electrical stimulation, which starts the tenderizing process right after harvest and prevents the cold-induced toughening that makes some grass-finished beef disappointing. It matters more for grass-finished cattle than for grain-fed, and it's part of why our beef eats the way it does.
We also run an over-30-month program, so the loin gets cut as New York strip and tenderloin rather than T-bones or porterhouse. You get the same meat, cut into two steaks instead of one. Worth knowing before you order so nothing at pickup surprises you.
What never changes about your price
Our published rate can move with the market, but once you place your deposit, your price per pound is locked for your animal. Only the weight moves after that. If the animal runs light, your balance is smaller. If it runs heavy, you get more beef and the balance adjusts up.
Your deposit always applies toward your total. You see your exact total on the invoice before you pay a cent of the balance, and you enter your own card on that invoice. We don't store it and we don't charge it automatically.
How much freezer space you'll need
Plan on about one cubic foot for every 12 lbs of packaged beef. Be honest with yourself about this before you reserve, because there's no fixing it on pickup day.
| Share | Packaged beef | Freezer space |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter | 75 to 90 lbs | 7 to 10 cu ft |
| Half | 150 to 180 lbs | 13 to 15 cu ft |
| Whole | 300 to 350 lbs | 25 to 30 cu ft |
A whole share generally means more than one freezer, or one large chest freezer plus whatever you already have. Real-world packing eats about a quarter of a freezer's rated capacity once you account for package shapes and shelving, so size up rather than down.
Pickup in McKinney
All shares are pickup only in McKinney, Texas. We don't ship.
Pickup happens on a scheduled Saturday afternoon, and we assign each customer an arrival window, generally between 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM. That keeps the line short. Your beef comes packed frozen in sealed boxes with a packing slip inside, and you sign for your box count at pickup. Check the contents against the slip when you get home and tell us within 72 hours if anything's off.
Can't make your window? Send someone in your place. There's no charge, just let us know in advance and have them bring photo ID. Full details are in our Shipping & Pickup Policy.
Bulk beef pricing FAQ
How much does a half cow cost?
As an example at our rates on August 14, 2026, a half cow works out to roughly $2,925 to $3,412, based on a hanging weight of 300 to 350 lbs at $9.75 per pound. Beef prices change, so treat that as an illustration and check the Half Cow product page for the current price. You reserve with a deposit and pay the balance once the exact hanging weight is confirmed at harvest.
How much does a quarter cow cost?
As an example at our rates on August 14, 2026, a quarter cow works out to roughly $1,500 to $1,750, based on a hanging weight of 150 to 175 lbs at $10.00 per pound. That's an illustration, not a quote; the current price is on the Quarter Cow product page. You reserve with a deposit.
How much does a whole cow cost?
As an example at our rates on August 14, 2026, a whole cow works out to roughly $5,700 to $6,650, based on a hanging weight of 600 to 700 lbs at $9.50 per pound. Prices move with the market, so check the Whole Cow product page for the current number. You reserve with a deposit.
What is hanging weight?
Hanging weight, also called hot carcass weight, is the weight of the carcass immediately after harvest and before aging, trimming, and cutting. It's measured at the USDA-inspected processor, and it's what your share is priced on.
Why don't you just charge a flat price?
Because no two animals are the same size. A flat price means either overcharging you on a light animal or losing money on a heavy one. Pricing on actual weight means you pay for exactly what you receive.
When do I pay the balance?
After your animal is processed and the hanging weight is confirmed. We send a second invoice showing your exact total and remaining balance, and you pay it by entering your card on that invoice. We don't store your card or charge it automatically. The balance is due within 3 business days of the invoice, and always before your pickup day.
Can I cancel after I place my deposit?
Yes, any time before the 15th of the month, for any reason. We refund your deposit in full to the card you paid with, no fee. After the 15th your share is committed and scheduled, so the order can't be cancelled or changed. See our Refund & Cancellation Policy for the details.
Are processing fees included in the price?
Standard cut, wrap, and freeze is included in your price per pound. Value-added items like sausage, flavored ground beef, hamburger patties, and beef bacon cost extra, with a 25 lb minimum per sausage variety, and they're available on half and whole shares only. Soup bones and patties carry a per-pound charge for the extra cutting and forming.
Do I get to choose my cuts?
On a half or a whole, yes. We email your cut sheet when you place your deposit and it's due back by the 22nd. A quarter comes as our standard selection, because two quarter buyers share a single side of beef and a single cut sheet. What's in a quarter is listed on the quarter cow page.
What does bulk beef mean?
Bulk beef means buying a share of a single animal instead of individual packages. At Texas Grass Fed Farms the options are a quarter cow, a half cow, or a whole cow, priced per pound of hanging weight. Current pricing for each is on its product page. The dollar ranges elsewhere on this page are examples that change with the market, not fixed prices.
Where can I buy bulk beef in Texas?
Texas Grass Fed Farms offers bulk beef shares by pickup in McKinney, Texas on Saturdays. The beef is raised by our partner ranchers on Texas pasture, grassfed and grass-finished, with no antibiotics and no added hormones.
How do I buy grass fed beef in bulk?
Pick a share size and place your deposit by the 15th to get into that month's batch. If you're buying a half or whole, fill out the cut sheet we email you and send it back by the 22nd. Once your animal is processed and the hanging weight is confirmed, you pay the balance and pick up your beef in McKinney. Fulfillment runs about four to six weeks after the cycle closes.
What does bulk beef work out to per pound of meat?
Divide the hanging weight rate by your yield. At a 50 to 55% yield, our August 14, 2026 rates work out to roughly $18.20 to $20.00 per take-home pound on a quarter, $17.75 to $19.50 on a half, and $17.30 to $19.00 on a whole. That's a blended rate across every cut, so the ribeyes, brisket, and ground beef all land at the same number. Those figures shift as our rate changes, so use the current price on the product page when you do the math.
How much freezer space do I need?
Plan on roughly one cubic foot for every 12 lbs of packaged beef. That's 7 to 10 cubic feet for a quarter, 13 to 15 for a half, and 25 to 30 for a whole. A whole share usually means more than one freezer.
Can these prices change?
Yes. Beef is a commodity and our rates move with the market, so the dollar figures on this page are examples as of August 14, 2026, not a standing offer. The current price for each share is always the one shown on its product page and confirmed at checkout. Once you place your deposit, your per-pound rate is locked for your animal.
Want to learn more?
How to Purchase Grass Fed Beef: Planning Guide
Complete Grass Fed Beef Cuts Guide
Every Cut from Brisket to Tenderloin
How to Cook Grass Fed Beef
Grassfed Beef Cooking Temperature Guide
Pickup Area
Reserve your share
Our partner ranchers raise this beef on Texas pasture with rotational grazing. No feedlots. No confinement. Never grain-finished to fatten them up at the end. No antibiotics, no added hormones, no mRNA vaccines, and no glyphosate.
Shares open on a monthly deposit cycle. Order by the 15th, and if you're buying a half or a whole we'll send your cut sheet as soon as your deposit goes through.
The prices, weights, totals, and deposits on this page are examples to show how bulk pricing works, based on our rates as of August 14, 2026. They are not a quote or an offer and are subject to change without notice. The current price for each share is shown on its product page and confirmed at checkout. When you place your deposit, your price per pound is locked at the rate in effect on your deposit date. Full terms are in our Terms of Service and Refund & Cancellation Policy.