Buy a Half Cow, Quarter Cow, or Whole Cow in La Vernia, TX
La Vernia is the county seat of Wilson County, about 25 miles east of downtown San Antonio on US Highway 87. It has grown steadily over the past decade as families from San Antonio sought acreage lots, good schools, and a rural feel without leaving commuting distance, and subdivisions like The Timbers and Triple R Ranch have drawn buyers who want land alongside their home. La Vernia families can reserve a whole, half, or quarter share of 100% grass-fed, grass-finished Texas beef, born, raised, and processed in Texas start to finish. Pickup is in McKinney, Texas, up in North Texas. That's a real drive from La Vernia, so we're not there yet. You can reserve a share and make the trip, or join the list and we'll tell you the day we bring pickup closer to La Vernia.
Where to Buy Grass-Fed Beef Near La Vernia
La Vernia has its own H-E-B at 14414 US Highway 87 West, a full-service store serving Wilson County. When you shop the beef section there, check the label for "Product of USA." Effective January 1, 2026, that designation legally requires the animal to have been born, raised, and processed in the United States. The label only tells you so much, though. Grass-fed describes how cattle were raised, not where they came from, and a meaningful share of what sits on US shelves is imported from Australia, New Zealand, or South America. For Texas-raised beef by the share, you can reserve a whole, half, or quarter cow from Texas Grass Fed Farms and pick it up in McKinney.
Buy Grass-Fed Beef by the Share
Instead of buying cuts one at a time, you reserve a share of the animal: a whole cow, a half cow, or a quarter cow. A half and a whole let you choose your cuts on a cut sheet. A quarter comes as a balanced split quarter, a standard mix of steaks, roasts, and ground beef. Reserve online through our bulk grass-fed beef page, then pick up in McKinney on a scheduled Saturday once the animal is processed. New to buying a share? Our grass-fed beef planning guide covers freezer space, transport, and choosing a size. If you do make the drive, build the day around it: historic Downtown McKinney's square is minutes from pickup, with local shops, restaurants, winery tasting rooms, and TUPPS Brewery. Not ready for the trip yet? Join the list below and we'll tell you the day we bring pickup nearer to La Vernia.
Why La Vernia Families Choose Texas Grass-Fed
The families who move to La Vernia are making a deliberate choice: land over density, community over convenience, quality over shortcuts. That same thinking shows up at the dinner table. Grass-fed and grass-finished beef from the Texas ranchers we partner with means no antibiotics, no added growth hormones, no mRNA vaccines, and no glyphosate on the pastures. For households focused on cleaner eating and knowing where their food comes from, that standard matters. Wilson County has a ranching tradition that goes back generations, and the people putting down roots here tend to respect it. Reserving a share from Texas Grass Fed Farms means backing the Texas ranchers doing this work and keeping that supply chain inside the state.
How Texas Ranchers Raise Grass-Fed Cattle
The partner ranchers we work with raise pasture-raised cattle on open Texas pastures from birth through finishing. Cattle rotate across pastures on a managed schedule, letting the land rest and recover between grazing cycles, which builds soil health and keeps native forage strong. Grass-finished means the animal never enters a feedlot for grain before processing; that's the distinction from conventional beef, which uses grain in the final phase to push weight. Our partner ranchers skip that step entirely. No antibiotics, no added growth hormones, no mRNA vaccines, and no glyphosate ever applied to the pastures they manage. All processing happens at USDA-inspected facilities inside Texas, so the beef is born, raised, and processed in-state with a completely traceable Texas origin.
Half Cow, Quarter Cow, or Whole Cow: What You Get
Every share is cut to order and packaged frozen, ready for your freezer the day you pick it up in McKinney. Roughly what each size gives you:
- Quarter cow: a balanced split quarter, roughly 75 to 90 lbs of packaged beef. A standard mix, no cut sheet needed.
- Half cow (a side of beef): your choice of cuts on a cut sheet, roughly 150 to 180 lbs of packaged beef.
- Whole cow: the full animal, two halves, roughly 300 to 360 lbs of packaged beef, your cut choices throughout.
Across those shares you get steaks, roasts, ground beef, brisket, short ribs, and soup bones. Your price is based on the hanging weight (the hot carcass weight) once the animal is processed, and a fixed deposit set by share size reserves your spot.
How Much Does a Half Cow Cost in La Vernia?
Half cow cost works differently than a per-package price at the store. You reserve your share with a fixed, non-refundable deposit set by size; quarter, half, and whole each have their own deposit amount. Once the animal is processed and the hanging weight is confirmed, we calculate the final total from that weight, and the balance (final total minus your deposit) is due then. Spread across every cut, from ground beef to ribeyes, the per-pound price on a half cow lands well below what boutique grass-fed cuts run at retail. Factor the drive to McKinney into your decision; for a lot of Wilson County families a half or whole is what makes the trip worth it.
Is Buying a Quarter Cow Worth It?
A quarter cow runs roughly 75 to 90 lbs of packaged beef, enough to keep a couple or a small family in grass-finished beef for months, and the per-pound cost beats buying the same cuts one at a time. A quarter suits a first-time bulk buyer or a smaller household. That said, from La Vernia you're making a real drive to McKinney, so many families size up to a half or whole to make one trip count. If the drive isn't practical yet, join the list and we'll tell you when we reach the San Antonio area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy grass-fed beef near La Vernia, TX?
The H-E-B at 14414 US Highway 87 West carries beef; check the label for "Product of USA," since a grocery label may not confirm Texas origin or grass finishing. For Texas-raised beef by the share, you can reserve a whole, half, or quarter cow from Texas Grass Fed Farms and pick it up in McKinney, or join the waitlist for closer pickup.
What cuts do you get from a half cow?
A half cow comes with steaks, roasts, ground beef, brisket, short ribs, and soup bones, cut to your preferences on a cut sheet.
How much meat is in a quarter cow?
Roughly 75 to 90 lbs of packaged, frozen beef. A quarter comes as a balanced split quarter, a standard mix of steaks, roasts, and ground beef rather than a custom cut sheet.
How much freezer space does a half cow need?
Plan on roughly 10 to 15 cubic feet of freezer for a half cow, and about 7 to 10 for a quarter. Real-world packing wastes space, so size the freezer up rather than down.
What is the difference between grass-fed and grass-finished beef?
These days, none. Grass-fed cattle can't be fed grain, so grass-fed and grass-finished describe the same thing: an animal that ate grass and forage its whole life. Our beef is 100% grass-fed and grass-finished. And the label says nothing about country of origin, so always check for "Product of USA" when you shop in-store.
Where does most grass-fed beef in US grocery stores come from?
Australia, New Zealand, Uruguay, and Brazil are the primary sources of grass-fed beef sold in the US. "Grass-fed" describes the feeding protocol, not the origin. Effective January 1, 2026, the USDA requires beef labeled "Product of USA" to be born, raised, and processed in the United States. Every share we sell meets that standard.
Where and when is pickup?
Pickup is in McKinney, TX, north of Dallas, on a scheduled Saturday. That's a real drive from La Vernia, so today this works for families willing to make the trip. We announce the date once the hanging weight is confirmed, then we meet you in McKinney to hand off your beef. Pickup only: you collect your share, nothing gets mailed out. Join the list and we'll tell you the day we bring pickup closer to the San Antonio area.
Ready to reserve? Browse sizes on our bulk grass-fed beef page, or see our Texas grass-fed beef page for where we serve and where we're headed next.
Other San Antonio Area Towns
San Antonio | Seguin | New Braunfels | Floresville | Jourdanton | Boerne | Bandera | Comfort | Lytle | Gonzales | Cuero | Yoakum
Want Us Closer to La Vernia?
For now, you pick up your share in McKinney, and you're welcome to make the drive. Tell us where you are and we'll let you know when we bring pickup or delivery closer to you.