How much do you pay for 1/2 a grass fed cow?

[Peek-a-boo]

I'm curious . . .

I met some one who raises grass fed cows. She gave me ball park numbers . . . will vary depending on the exact weight, etc.:

$450 for 1/2 a cow plus $100 ish to have it cut and wrapped.

I have no frame of reference to know if this is cheap, expensive, what, so I'm curious what those of you with more experience pay.

[momma_sprout]

We just recently purchased a half an organic free range cow. It cost just over $1000 canadian. That was butchered and packaged. So I'd say $550 ish is a really good price. But I'm in BC I think everything's more expensive here.

[Lysa]

Wow - sure shows how prices vary from area to area!
Here in eastern PA I've paid $800!

[cristeen]

It also depends on the breed and age of the cow... is it a breed where 1/2 a cow is only going to be 200#, or is it a breed that 1/2 a cow is going to be 600#? IOW, what does that break down to on a per lb basis? "Half a cow" is a very imprecise measurement to use for comparison.

I've seen 1/2 cows going for $3.50/lb, and I've seen them going for $6/lb. Per piece, I buy ground beef for $6/lb, and the cheapest non-ground cut is $13/lb, IIRC. So either way that would be a deal for me to buy it by the 1/2.

[Peek-a-boo]

Originally Posted by cristeen

It also depends on the breed and age of the cow... is it a breed where 1/2 a cow is only going to be 200#, or is it a breed that 1/2 a cow is going to be 600#? IOW, what does that break down to on a per lb basis? "Half a cow" is a very imprecise measurement to use for comparison.

Good point!

[tbone]

I believe we paid 3.25 per lb for a quarter cow.

[JollyGG]

That sounds pretty reasonable to me. I haven't bought in a while since my parents buy a whole grass fed cow each fall and each kid gets 1/4 as a Christmas present. I think they pay around 1200 for it but I'm not sure.

[tinuviel_k]

I believe our 1/4 cow worked out to be about $3.50 a pound take-home weight. (About 70 lbs for $235)

[dogmom327]

I've bought three sides (half cow) over the last two years to share with friends. They were 150#, 300# and 350#. Generally speaking, take home has been about 60% for meat plus bones, tallow, etc. I don't remember exactly what I paid the first time but the last two were $700 and $800 (both include hanging weight fees to the farmer, slaughter fees, and cut/wrap fees).

ETA: Breakdown of costs--$1.75-$1.90 hanging weight plus $30-$40 slaughter fee plus $.45-.49 cut/wrap fee.

[momma_sprout]

Well at least I don't feel too bad about the cost of my 1/2 a cow, it was $3.10 lb.

[dynamicdoula]

Originally Posted by Peek-a-boo

I'm curious . . .

I met some one who raises grass fed cows. She gave me ball park numbers . . . will vary depending on the exact weight, etc.:

$450 for 1/2 a cow plus $100 ish to have it cut and wrapped.

I have no frame of reference to know if this is cheap, expensive, what, so I'm curious what those of you with more experience pay.

We're buying grass fed beef at a really reduced rate but normal would be between $3-$4 per lb, plus $.50 per lb for cutting and wrapping.

HTH