Beef Shares

The main difference is the amount of beef you receive, the level of customization, and the amount of freezer space needed. A whole cow provides the most beef and the most flexibility, making it a good choice for large families, shared households, or customers who want to stock up for the year. A half cow is a popular middle option for families who cook beef regularly, while a quarter cow is a smaller entry point for customers who want a variety of grass-fed Longhorn beef without committing to a larger share.

A whole cow typically provides the best overall value because you are purchasing the largest share at one time and receive the widest variety of cuts. A half cow is also a strong value for families who want a large freezer supply without taking on the full volume of a whole beef. A quarter cow costs more per pound than a larger share, but it is a great option for customers who want to try a beef share with a lower upfront commitment.

The right beef share depends on how often your household eats beef, how much freezer space you have, and whether you want custom cutting options. A whole cow is best for large households, families who meal plan heavily, or customers splitting with relatives or friends. A half cow works well for families who eat beef several times per week, while a quarter cow is a good fit for smaller households, couples, or first-time beef share buyers.

Take-home weight varies by animal and processing, but larger shares provide more total packaged beef.

With our Longhorn beef cattle you can estimate to take home appoximately:

Whole Cow - 400 lbs

Half Cow - 200 lbs

Quarter Cow - 100 lbs

Yes, each beef share includes a variety of cuts from the animal, including steaks, roasts, ground beef, and other available cuts. Larger shares usually provide more variety and more total cuts because you are receiving a larger portion of the beef. Plus, you'll be able to customize your own cut card with a whole beef and a half beef. Quarter beef customers receive one-quarter of our standard cut card, so the selection is balanced across the available cuts rather than fully customized.

Whole cow and half cow customers have more flexibility because they receive a larger portion of the animal and can complete a custom cut card. Quarter cow customers do not receive their own individual cut card; instead, they receive one-quarter of our standard cut card. This allows us to keep the quarter cow option simple, fair, and consistent while still providing a useful variety of beef.

A custom cut card allows you to make certain choices about how your beef is processed, such as steak thickness, roast sizes, and some preferred cut options. A standard cut card is our pre-selected processing plan that creates a practical mix of steaks, roasts, ground beef, and other cuts. Whole and half cow shares offer more customization, while quarter cow shares are based on our standard cut card.

Yes, beef share customers may have the option to upgrade to primal ground beef (ground beef blended with ground heart, liver, kidney) and rendered tallow, depending on the share size and availability. These upgrades are helpful for customers who want more control in their kitchen, prefer to break down larger cuts themselves, or want to add nutrient-dense cooking fat to their order. Quarter cow customers can still choose these upgrade options even though they do not receive their own custom cut card.

Yes, many customers choose to split a larger beef share with family, friends, or neighbors. This can make a whole cow or half cow more manageable while still giving everyone access to high-quality grass-fed Longhorn beef. We will provide it as a single order and you will be able to decide how to divide the cuts between yourselves.

We do things differently. To simplify the process for our customers, we charged by the final, take-home weight. Other ranches generally charge veef shares priced based on hanging weight, plus processing costs, and other fees. The final take-home weight is lower than the hanging weight (about 70% of the hanging weight). We've discovered that this can be confusing for our customers and it makes it more difficult for families to estimate and budget for the investment. The packaged beef you take home will include your final cuts, vacuum sealed and frozen for storage.

All beef shares size are provided as individual cuts, vacuum sealed, labeled, frozen, and ready for your freezer. This makes it easier to organize your cuts, track what you have on hand, and pull out exactly what you need for meals. Proper freezer storage helps protect the quality and flavor of your grass-fed Longhorn beef.