At a glance
| Share of a 1,200 lb steer | Packaged beef | Freezer space | Processing at Creek Ranch* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole | about 481 lb | 12–14 cu ft | about $1,325 |
| Half | about 240 lb | 6–7 cu ft | about $663 |
| Quarter | about 120 lb | 3–3.5 cu ft | about $331 |
*Family freezer order from our cost guide, split evenly. Yield from University of Wisconsin Extension; freezer space at 35–40 lb of packaged meat per cubic foot (Michigan State University Extension). Your animal’s weight and cuts change all three.
Where the weight goes
A 1,200 lb steer hangs at about 744 lb. Chilling takes off a few percent, and trimming bone and fat takes more, which leaves about 481 lb of packaged beef. Choosing more bone-in cuts gives you more pounds; choosing everything boneless gives you fewer. South Dakota State University Extension puts a typical fed steer at about 490 lb of boneless trimmed beef.
Freezer space
Plan on one cubic foot for every 35 to 40 lb of packaged meat, plus extra room for roasts and other odd shapes. A half beef usually needs a chest freezer of its own. Vacuum-packed cuts, which is how Creek Ranch packs every order, stack more tightly than paper-wrapped ones.
How splitting a beef works at Creek Ranch
- One person books the animal and is responsible for the whole bill, so collect from the other buyers before pickup.
- Each buyer fills out their own cut sheet and marks it half or quarter, so every family gets the steaks, roasts and ground beef they want in their own boxes.
- If the meat is for your households, sell the live animal (or shares of it) before slaughter and have it processed custom. Custom meat can’t be resold. To sell cuts, choose USDA-inspected processing; see USDA vs. custom-exempt.
Questions
How much meat is in a half beef?
About 240 lb of packaged beef from a 1,200 lb steer, using University of Wisconsin Extension’s yield example. Lighter or leaner animals give less.
How big a freezer do I need for a quarter beef?
About 3 to 3.5 cubic feet for 120 lb of packaged beef, at 35–40 lb per cubic foot, plus a little extra room for odd-shaped cuts.
Who pays the processor when we split a beef?
At Creek Ranch, the producer who books and brings the animal is responsible for the whole bill. Buyers usually pay that person their share.
Sources
- University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension, Beef animal yield
- South Dakota State University Extension, How much meat can you expect from a fed steer?
- Michigan State University Extension, How much to expect when buying freezer beef