Purchasing bulk beef can be a daunting task, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the process. But fear not! We’re here to simplify the journey for you. With years of experience selling halves, wholes, and quarters, we’ve compiled a list of commonly asked questions to guide you through the process of buying bulk beef.
Key Takeaways
How Much Beef Will I Get?
Understanding the weight breakdown can be confusing, with terms like LW and HCW thrown around. Let’s break it down for you in simple terms. The “Live Weight” (LW) of the animal is around 1,425 lbs. This is the weight of the animal after it comes off the finishing diet. The next important weight to consider is the “Hanging Carcass Weight” (HCW). This is the weight of the animal after the removal of offal and once it’s on the rail to age for 14 days. On average, the HCW for our latest batch was around 850 lbs, which is approximately 60% of the live weight. Finally, we have the “Final Yield Weight” (FYW), which is the amount of beef you’ll have in your freezer after removing bones and excess fat. For a whole animal, the FYW usually falls between 400 and 450 lbs, while for a half, it’s around 200 to 225 lbs.
How Much Freezer Space Will I Need for My Beef?
If you’re purchasing a half of beef, you’ll need approximately 10 cubic feet of freezer space. For a whole beef, we recommend having around 20 cubic feet. Most medium-sized freezers can accommodate 12 to 18 cubic feet, while larger freezers can fit up to 25 cubic feet.
What Is the Price Breakdown and Why Does Bulk Beef Seem Expensive?
Now let’s talk about the price breakdown. Different producers may choose to price their beef based on various weights. However, we believe in transparency and fairness. That’s why we base our prices on the FYW, charging for exactly what ends up in your freezer. If we were to compare our $8.25/lb price with the average HCW prices, our cost would be roughly $2.90/lb, making us nearly $0.20/lb cheaper than our closest competitors.
One advantage of purchasing in bulk is the ability to customize your half or whole beef to suit your family’s needs. You have the freedom to choose the size of roasts, the thickness of steaks, and whether you want bone-in cuts. As a general rule, a carcass breakdown consists of approximately 40% ground beef, 30% roasts, and 30% steaks. Of course, these percentages can be modified based on your preferences.
Here are some examples of cuts you might receive in your order:
- Roasts from both the Chuck and the Round.
- Flavorful cuts of steaks such as Sirloin Steak, Flatiron Steak, and Skirt Steak.
- If you opt for a bone-in cut, you’ll receive T-Bone and Porterhouse Steaks.
- If you prefer boneless cuts, you’ll receive New York and Tenderloin Steaks.
- Specialty cuts such as Brisket, Tri-Tip, Short Ribs, Back Ribs, and Flank Steak.
- Depending on the cut sheet, either Rib Steaks or a Prime Rib Roast.
- Plenty of delicious Ground Beef.
- Upon request, we can also include Beef Bones.
How Do I Know I’ll Receive a High-Quality Product?
We’ve been raising cattle for over 100 years, but so have many others. What sets us apart? Well, apart from our century-long experience, we’ve been collecting carcass data every year, which has allowed us to improve our herd and carcass grading genetics. Our cattle have consistently graded 7 times above the national average for Prime beef. No one else even comes close to that level of quality. We hand-select the best cattle to introduce into our beef program, ensuring that our customers receive the absolute best product.
After reserving your beef through our request form and filling out a cut sheet, we’ll provide you with an estimated pickup date. While we’re unable to ship bulk beef due to the size of the order, we arrange drop-off and pickup dates in cities near you. This presents a great opportunity to coordinate with friends, neighbors, and family members for convenient pickup dates.
Is Bulk Beef Worth It?
The question of the year! Buying bulk beef is an excellent way to save money and stock up on a high-quality protein source for your family. In fact, purchasing in bulk can save you up to 30% compared to your weekly and monthly grocery store beef purchases. Beyond the cost savings, there’s an added benefit of knowing exactly where your beef comes from, what it ate, and how it was treated. The uncertainty surrounding grocery store beef’s origin and quality is a significant factor that drives many people to opt for bulk purchases. If a half or a whole is too much for you, consider partnering up with friends, family, or neighbors to split an order.
So why wait? Visit Rowdy Hog Smokin BBQ today and experience the joy of buying bulk beef—fresh, delicious, and directly from the source.
