Pricing
How does pricing work for your beef?
There are four options: Whole beef, half shares, quarter shares, and 25 mixed steak box share options are available. (Individual cuts are now available for a limited time!)
A whole beef is $5/lb., a half share is $6/lb., and a quarter share is $6/lb.
This price includes vacuum-sealed packaging.
Additionally, our processing facility charges a $50 butchering fee for a whole beef. If you order a half a $25 butchering fee is applied and $15 for a quarter.
Processing
How many pounds should we expect from our beef?
Our cows are approximately 900 to 1200lbs before butchering. During butchering, there is approximately 50% loss in weight. The remaining is called the “hanging weight.” Our pricing is based on this hanging weight number. You can expect hanging weights at approximately ~500to 650lbs hanging (whole) ~ 250to 325lbs (half) ~125-200lbs (quarter)
What happens during processing?
Our cows are taken to a state certified processing facility after your deposit is taken. (The date of drop off depends on the schedule of the processing facility and usually takes 1-2 weeks to be scheduled.) Once the cow is dropped off, it is then processed by the butcher within 24 hours and we are notified of the hanging weight (see above for info.)
The beef is then aged for 14 days. Afterward, the hanging beef will be packaged. During packaging, there is an additional ~25% loss in weight. Leaving a final packaged weights of ~375 to 490 lbs for the Whole beef, ~187 to 250 lbs for the 1/2 share, and ~93 to 150 lbs for the 1/4 share.
What should I expect when I place an order?
Ordering
When you are ready to order, you can place your deposit by clicking the links on our Ordering page. There is a deposit of $600 for a whole beef, $200 for a half beef, or $200 for a quarter that must be received before your animal is taken to the processing facility. The deposit is only there to ensure your commitment as a buyer as our animals are still grazing and we need to make sure that the whole beef is spoken for before we move them to process.
Butchering
Once the entire beef is sold and deposits are received, we will proceed to the butchering facility. You will then get an email letting you know the date the animal was dropped off and an approximate timeline for your order. (Our orders currently age for a minimum of 14 days before cutting and packaging.) After the butcher has given us the final hanging weight for your order, we will send you your final invoice with the total weight and price, minus your deposit.
If your order is a half or whole beef, you will have the opportunity to contact them to customize your butchering preferences. They can assist you through customizing your order. This includes the thickness of steaks, the weight of the roasts, specialty steaks desired (flat-iron, tri-tip, etc.), and other desired parts such as your share of organs or soup bones. If the head is desired, an additional $12 will be needed for the USDA inspection.
The Meat
For a 1/4 share order, you can expect these cuts with your order. All Steaks will be cut to a 1.25 inch thickness, unless otherwise requested.
- 3-4 Chuck / Arm Roasts (around 12 lbs. total)
- 1/2 brisket
- 4 â 6 Rib-eye Steaks
- 4 – 6 T-bone Steak
- 4 – 6 Sirloin Steak
- Flank or Skirt Steak
- 6 â 8 lbs. Short Ribs (or the rib meat can be ground upon request)
- 2 â 4 Round Roasts
- Ground meat will be in 1-pound packages
Pickup
Your final payment is due to Hamilton Cattle Co. no later than your scheduled pickup date at the processor. A final receipt will be emailed to you after payment processing. We are currently not shipping orders. Pick up in Gonzales, TX, or New Braunfels, TX is required.
If your drive is less then 2 hours to the facility and you have room in an air-conditioned cab, coolers are not necessary as the beef is frozen at such a low temp and packaged tightly. Please bring an appropriate number and size of coolers for your order if the distance is greater than mentioned above, or if it will be traveling in the back of a truck during the hot Texas summers.
What should I know before I order?
Before ordering, there are a few things to consider.
–Your freezer space. A quarter cow can easily fit into a 5 cu. ft. chest freezer with plenty of room for ice cream and popsicles. You can pack around 15 to 25 lbs per cu ft. Here is a photo of a quarter cow order with 2 lb. ground beef bags and 1.5-inch cut steaks, minus the brisket. (Order size may vary slightly based on final hanging weight.)
–The types of cuts you prefer. A cow is not made entirely of t-bone steaks, but you will get a great variety capable of providing you with many different nutritious meal options. Here is a great list of the primal cuts and their available customization options. (Click on the image to zoom in.)
Here are some other options to think about when deciding on your preferred beef cuts. You will not see all of the steaks listed in these charts with your order as some steaks are combined. For example, the T-Bone and Porterhouse Steaks consist of a New York Strip and a Filet, you can choose to have it left on the bone or removed and individually packaged depending on your preference. Other cuts listed like the Rib-eye Roast consist of all of your Rib-eye Steaks, just not portioned out.
Have questions?
If you have questions about any parts of the process, please Contact Us and we are happy to help.
To reserve your share, please head to our Ordering Page.
Hamilton Cattle Co. 