08/29/2026
đ„© Letâs clear up a few misconceptions about buying beef from a local farm.
âLocal beef is more expensive.â
Most times the total looks higher because youâre actually purchasing several monthsâ worth of beef at onceâŠnot one package for tonightâs supper.
Local bulk beef is usually priced by hanging weight, which is the carcass weight before it is cut and wrapped. You will take home less than the hanging weight because bones, excess fat and moisture are removed during processing. That difference is a normal part of butchering, but youâre not missing meat. At some local butchering shops you can request bones and fat!
âThe grocery store only charges by the pound, so itâs cheaper.â
The store charges by the pound of packaged meat, but every cut has a different price. Ground beef may be advertised cheaply, while steaks, brisket and roasts cost considerably more.
With a quarter or half beef, you pay one average price across the animal. That average includes hamburger and higher-value steaks and roasts. Comparing local beef only with sale-priced hamburger is not an equal comparison.
For example, a local quarter could look like this:
âą 200 pounds hanging weight Ă $5.00 = $1,000
âą Processing and slaughter fees = approximately $300
âą Total investment = approximately $1,300
âą Estimated packaged beef = 120â140 pounds
âą Actual average freezer cost = approximately $9.29â$10.83 per pound
That isnât $9â$11 if just hamburger! It is one average price for everything in your freezer⊠from ground beef to premium steaks.
âThe farmer is charging too much.â
That price must help cover breeding, feed, pasture, hay, equipment, fencing, bedding, veterinary care, transportation and 18â24 months of daily labor. In reality, a lot of small local herds barely come close to breaking even. Processing charges generally go to the butcher⊠not into the farmerâs pocket.
Buying locally also shortens the supply chain:
Local farmer â local butcher â your freezer
It may require more money upfront and adequate freezer space, so bulk beef will not fit every household. It also may not beat the storeâs cheapest hamburger special. Some local farms may also sell smaller quantities retail so itâs always worth asking!
If your family regularly eats steaks, roasts and ground beef, compare the cost of the entire assortment, not one discounted package. That cost may surprise you!
Local beef is not always the cheapest purchase today. But it can be the most cost-effective investment over the months ahead⊠while supporting the people who raised your food and giving you the opportunity to know exactly where it came from.
