Most processors price one of two ways: a rate per pound of hanging weight, usually with a harvest fee on top, or one flat price. Here's how to compare them for your own animal without guessing. For the Texas cost picture, see what beef processing costs in Texas. For the questions to ask first, see how to choose a beef processor in Texas.
How per-pound pricing works
A per-pound quote multiplies a rate by your animal's hanging weight. Many plants add a separate harvest fee, and some add charges for things like patties, boxes, or storage. The final bill isn't known until the carcass is weighed.
How our flat price works
- $850 for a whole on one cut sheet
- $450 for a half
- $900 for two halves on separate cut sheets
That covers harvest, the 72-hour chill, cutting, 14days of wet aging on seven subprimals, vacuum sealing, labeling, freezing, patties, and chili meat. There's no hanging-weight fee, so the price doesn't change with the size of the animal. The only extras are a small added charge for label claims that need USDA LSAS approval, and private label design or GS1 barcodes, which are quoted for each project. The posted prices are on flat beef processing prices.
The break-even rate
To compare, divide our flat price by your animal's hanging weight. That's the per-pound rate where the two prices match, before any harvest fee or extras on the per-pound bill.
Break-even rate = flat price ÷ hanging weight
Hanging weight usually runs 50 to 62% of live weight. For a 1,200 lb steer, that's about 600 to 744 lb.
Whole ($850)
| Hanging weight | Break-even per-pound rate |
|---|---|
| 600 lb | $1.42 |
| 650 lb | $1.31 |
| 700 lb | $1.21 |
| 744 lb | $1.14 |
Half ($450)
| Hanging weight of the half | Break-even per-pound rate |
|---|---|
| 300 lb | $1.50 |
| 325 lb | $1.38 |
| 350 lb | $1.29 |
| 372 lb | $1.21 |
If a per-pound quote is abovethe break-even rate for your hanging weight, the flat price costs less. If it's below, check whether the harvest fee and extras close the gap.
Add the harvest fee
If the per-pound plant charges a harvest fee, subtract it first:
Break-even rate = (flat price minus harvest fee) ÷ hanging weight
Use the real harvest fee from the quote you were given. For example, with a whole, take 850, subtract the harvest fee, then divide by your hanging weight.
A worked example
Say your steer weighed 1,200 lb live and hung at 650 lb.
- Our price: $850for the whole, on one cut sheet. That doesn't change with the hanging weight.
- Break-even rate: $850 ÷ 650 = about $1.31 per pound.
- The other quote:multiply their per-pound rate by 650, then add their harvest fee and any extras you'd use.
- Compare the two totals.
Whole on one cut sheet, or two halves
If you're splitting with another family or a buyer, a whole cut as two halves on separate cut sheets is $900, or $450 each. A whole on one cut sheet is $850.
Fees to ask about on any quote
- Harvest or kill fee
- Minimum charge
- Aging, and for how many days
- Vacuum sealing and labeling
- Freezing
- Patties and chili meat
- Organs and bones. See organs, bones, and kidney fat.
- Boxes
- Storage if you pick up late
- Label claims and private label
For comparison, organs and bones here (liver, heart, tongue, oxtail, beef cheek, kidney fat, soup bones, and marrow bones) are on the cut sheet at no charge, and patties and chili meat are included.
What the flat price doesn't change
A flat price doesn't mean less beef. A properly finished steer still gives about 36% of its live weight as take-home beef, so a 1,200 lb steer comes back as about 430 lb. See how much meat you get from a cow.