Buying half a cow used to mean finding a rancher, putting down a deposit, filling out a cut sheet, and waiting for a processing date and a hanging-weight bill you couldn't predict. Then you had to drive out and pick it up. Today you can buy a half cow online, know exactly what's in it before you pay, and have it shipped frozen to your door. Here's how it works, start to finish.
What You Get in a Half Cow
A half cow (also called a half beef or a side of beef) is half of a processed steer's beef: steaks, roasts, ribs, ground beef, and more, all in one order.
Our Half Beef On Demand is 230+ pounds of finished, vacuum-sealed beef with a set cut list. The cattle are raised on our 4th-generation family ranch in Springtown, Texas, pasture-raised and grain-finished, and processed in-house at our own USDA-inspected facility. Here's what's in every half:
| Cut | Size | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Boneless Ribeye | 16 oz | 10 |
| NY Strip | 12 oz | 13 |
| Filet Mignon | 6 oz | 10 |
| Sirloin | 16 oz | 12 |
| Flank | 4 | |
| Skirt | 1 lb | 4 |
| Short Ribs | 3 lb packs | 3 |
| Tablitas | 1 lb | 5 |
| Chuck Roast | 2.5 lb | 8 |
| Ground Beef | 1 lb | 140 |
| Fresh Beef Tallow | 16 oz | 5 |
That's 45 steaks, 8 chuck roasts, and 140 pounds of ground beef, plus ribs, tablitas, and tallow.
How to Buy a Half Cow Online, Step by Step
- Check your freezer. A half takes about 7 cubic feet. More on that below.
- Order online. Add the Half Beef On Demand to your cart and check out. The price is $2,999 with shipping included. No deposit, no cut sheet, no waiting list.
- We pack it. Your beef is packed frozen in insulated boxes with dry ice. Orders are processed Monday through Friday.
- Watch for tracking. We email you a tracking number when your order ships.
- Unload into the freezer. When it arrives, move everything into the freezer right away.
That's the whole process. You don't have to call a processor, choose steak thickness, or wait for a harvest date.
How It Ships
We ship halves nationwide to the lower 48 states using FedEx Home Delivery.
- Packing: Insulated boxes with dry ice to keep everything frozen in transit.
- Timing: Most orders ship within 3–4 business days of ordering, and transit is 2–4 days. Order to doorstep is typically about 1 to 1.5 weeks.
- Tracking: Emailed when your order ships.
- Guarantee: If there's any issue with your delivery, we replace the shipment. Contact us within 48 hours of delivery.
Beef is perishable, so we can't accept returns or exchanges outside that delivery guarantee. To see how we pack every order, read from our ranch to your freezer.
Locker Beef vs. Beef On Demand
There are two ways to buy a half cow. Locker beef is the traditional route. You buy a share of an animal from a rancher, fill out a cut sheet for the processor, and wait for a processing date. You pay by hanging weight, which is the carcass weight before cutting, plus a separate processing fee. Take-home beef is typically 60–65% of the hanging weight, so you won't know your true cost per pound until it's done. Pickup is usually local only.
Beef on demand is how we sell our halves. You buy a finished weight with an exact cut list at one delivered price, and it ships to you.
| Locker beef (traditional) | Beef on demand (ours) | |
|---|---|---|
| How you pay | By hanging weight, plus a separate processing fee | One price for the finished weight: $2,999 for 230+ lbs |
| What you take home | Typically 60–65% of hanging weight | 230+ lbs, as listed |
| Deposit | Usually required | None |
| Cut sheet | You fill one out | Not needed; exact cut list |
| Wait | Weeks to months for a processing date | Most orders ship in 3–4 business days |
| Getting it home | Usually local pickup only | Shipped to the lower 48, or local pickup in Springtown, TX |
Locker beef can work well if you live near a rancher you trust, want to choose every cut yourself, and don't mind the wait. If you want to know the weight, the cuts, and the total before you pay, and you want it shipped, on demand is the simpler choice.
What Does Half a Cow Cost?
Our half is $2,999 delivered, about $13.00 per pound with shipping included. That's the best per-pound price we offer, and it covers every cut in the box, ribeyes and filets included.
When you compare it to a locker beef quote, remember that hanging-weight prices are per pound of carcass, not per pound of beef in your freezer. Divide the hanging price (with processing) by 0.60 and 0.65 to get your real cost per take-home pound. We walk through a full worked example in buying a quarter cow, and the same math applies to a half.
Freezer Space and How Long a Half Lasts
Plan on about 1 cubic foot of freezer space for every 30–35 lbs of vacuum-sealed beef. A half (230+ lbs) needs about 7 cubic feet, so plan on a 7 cubic foot or larger chest freezer. Kept at 0°F, vacuum-sealed beef holds its quality for 12 months or more.
How long it lasts depends on how often you cook beef. Assuming about 1 lb per meal for a family of four and about half a pound for two:
- Family of 2, beef 3–4 times a week: about 2 years. For most couples, we recommend a quarter instead.
- Family of 4, beef 3–4 times a week: about 12–14 months.
- Family of 5–6 or heavy beef eaters: about 8–10 months.
Not sure a half is the right size? Quarter Cow vs. Half Cow covers household size in detail. Once your beef arrives, here's how to organize a freezer full of bulk beef.
Picking Up in Texas Instead
If you're close to Springtown, Texas, local pickup is available. It's the same half with the same cut list, raised and processed by the same family, just without the shipping box. Everywhere else in the lower 48, we ship it to your door.
You can see all of our sizes on the bulk beef page, including the Quarter Beef On Demand (exactly 100 lbs, $1,399 delivered) for smaller households.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I buy a half cow online?
Order our Half Beef On Demand on our website like any other product. There's no deposit or cut sheet. We pack it frozen with dry ice and ship it by FedEx Home Delivery, and you get a tracking number by email.
Can a half cow be shipped to my house?
Yes. We ship to the lower 48 states. Most orders ship within 3–4 business days, transit is 2–4 days, and order to doorstep is typically about 1 to 1.5 weeks.
How much does half a cow cost?
Ours is $2,999 for 230+ lbs of finished, vacuum-sealed beef, about $13.00 per pound with shipping included.
What's the difference between locker beef and beef on demand?
Locker beef is priced by hanging weight, usually needs a deposit and a cut sheet, and involves a wait for processing and local pickup. Beef on demand is a finished weight with an exact cut list at one delivered price, shipped to you.
How much freezer space do I need for half a cow?
About 7 cubic feet. Plan on a 7 cubic foot or larger chest freezer.
What happens if there's a problem with my delivery?
Contact us within 48 hours of delivery and we'll replace the shipment. You can reach us at orders@parkercountybeefcompany.com or (817) 404-7405.