Quarter and eighth shares
A quarter cow, and where most people start.
A quarter is the same idea as a half at half the size. Around a hundred pounds of beef from one animal, cut the way you asked for it, in a freezer you probably already own.
What is a fair price for a quarter cow?
Before you compare two farms, make sure you are comparing the same number. A quarter quoted per hanging pound and a quarter quoted per take home pound will look wildly different for the same beef, because take home weight is roughly sixty to sixty five percent of hanging weight after bone, trim and moisture loss.
Then ask two more questions. Is processing included in that figure or billed separately by the locker. And what is the take home weight for the actual animal you are buying into, not an average from a website.
One thing to expect: a quarter costs slightly more per pound than a half, and an eighth more again. The slaughter, the cutting, the wrapping and the handling are much the same work spread over less beef. That is not a farm marking you up for buying small. It is arithmetic.
How much meat do you get with a 1/4 cow?
| Quarter | Around 100 pounds packaged · about 3 cubic feet of freezer |
|---|---|
| Eighth | Around 45 pounds packaged · fits most standalone freezers |
| Cut sheet | Yours to fill out, same as a half |
| Best for | Two to four people, or a first share |
What comes in it is a proportional slice of the animal, so you get steaks, roasts, ground and stew rather than a box of one thing. The mix is fixed by the animal. The proportions are yours to influence on the cut sheet.
What we actually sell right now
Our store currently carries a half and an eighth rather than a quarter. The eighth is around 45 pounds and it is the usual starting point for a household that has never bought beef this way.
If a quarter is specifically what you want, call the ranch and ask. What is on offer follows the cattle rather than a catalogue, so it changes through the year.
Is it worth buying a quarter cow?
For most households buying direct for the first time, this is the right size. It is enough beef that you notice the difference in what you are eating, and small enough that it fits a freezer you already own and a bill you do not need to think about for a week.
and then run out of freezer in November.
Households that cook beef most nights usually move up to a half beef after their first year, once they know what they actually get through.
What people get wrong about the smaller shares
The most common mistake is treating a share like a bulk discount on the cuts you already buy. It is not that. You are buying a proportional slice of an animal, which means you get the shanks and the stew beef along with the ribeyes, and the value only shows up if you cook the whole range.
The second mistake is going too big on the first order. A freezer that is still full of round steak in April is not a saving, it is a storage problem. Start smaller than you think and move up once you know what your household actually gets through in six months.
How the order works
- Call or order online, and we tell you which animals are close to finishing.
- We quote the take home weight and the total before you pay anything.
- You fill out the cut sheet, with help if you want it.
- Collect at the ranch on a Sunday, or we deliver inside about 300 miles.
Questions we get
What is a fair price for a quarter cow?
Compare farms on take home weight, not hanging weight, or you are comparing two different numbers. Then ask what the processing costs and whether it is included. A quarter almost always costs slightly more per pound than a half, because the same handling is spread over less beef.
How much meat do you get with a 1/4 cow?
Usually around 100 pounds packaged, depending on the animal and the cut sheet. An eighth is roughly half that again, around 45 pounds.
Is it worth buying a 1/4 cow?
It is the size most people should start with. Enough beef to notice the difference, small enough to fit a freezer you probably already own, and a bill that does not require a conversation with your spouse.
Do you sell quarters?
Our store currently carries a half and an eighth rather than a quarter. The eighth is around 45 pounds and is the usual starting point. If a quarter is what you want, call the ranch and ask, because what is on offer follows the cattle.
How much freezer space does a quarter need?
About three cubic feet for a quarter, and an eighth fits comfortably in most standalone freezers.
Reserve on the next animal
We will tell you the take home weight and the total cost before you commit to anything.
We will tell you when beef is ready. Nothing else.