How Much Does a Whole Beef Cost?
Beef and processing, added up.
The short answer
$5,269 - $5,338
Beef plus processing. The final figure depends on hanging weight.
- Beef, paid to us
- $4,255 - $4,313
- Processing, paid to Matt's Custom Meats
- $1,014 - $1,025
- Packaged beef you take home
- 444-488 lbs
- Average cost per packaged pound
- $10.80-$12.02
The per-pound figure averages everything in the freezer: ribeyes, roasts, and ground beef together.
How the price adds up
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Hanging weight, which you pay us for
A whole share hangs at about 740-750 lbs. At $5.75 per pound that is $4,255 - $4,313. Hanging weight is the carcass weight after harvest and before cutting, and the final bill uses the actual weight, not this estimate.
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Processing, which you pay Matt's Custom Meats
Matt's Custom Meats charges $1.10 per pound of hanging weight to cut and wrap. It adds $50 per quarter for the mobile harvest, or $200 on a whole share. Together that is $1,014 - $1,025, paid at pickup by cash or check.
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Take-home weight
Bone removal, fat trimming, and moisture lost in aging mean you take home less than the hanging weight. The estimate here is 444-488 lbs of packaged beef.
What ends up in the freezer
Expect roughly 55 to 60 percent steaks and roasts (244-293 lbs). Another 40 to 45 percent is ground beef (178-220 lbs). Ask for stew meat, short ribs, or other cuts if you want them.
During aging, Matt's Custom Meats calls you about cutting instructions. You choose steak thickness, ground beef lean ratio, roast sizes, and specialty cuts.
Your share needs about 16-20 cubic feet of freezer space.
The three sizes side by side
| Share | Hanging weight | Take-home | Freezer space | Total with processing | Per packaged lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarter | 185-190 lbs | 111-124 lbs | 5-7 cubic feet | $1,354 - $1,390 | $10.92-$12.52 |
| Half | 365-375 lbs | 219-244 lbs | 8-10 cubic feet | $2,637 - $2,706 | $10.81-$12.36 |
| Whole | 740-750 lbs | 444-488 lbs | 16-20 cubic feet | $5,269 - $5,338 | $10.80-$12.02 |
The larger the share, the lower the price per pound. For a comparison with store prices, see beef shares vs. the grocery store.
How payment works
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Reserve with a $500 deposit
The deposit holds your share for the October/November harvest. It is usually non-refundable, and it comes off your final balance.
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Harvest and aging
Matt's Custom Meats harvests at the ranch. They age the beef 14 to 21 days at their Longview, WA facility.
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Pay the balance within 5 days of harvest
We send a Square invoice once we know the actual hanging weight. Your balance is that weight times $5.75 per pound, minus your deposit. At 745 lbs that is $4,284 minus $500, or $3,784.
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Pick up and pay processing
Your beef is ready about 3 weeks after drop-off at Matt's Custom Meats in Longview, WA. Bring coolers. You pay the processing fee ($1,014 - $1,025) to them at pickup.
Is a whole the right size?
- A household of 5 or more people that eats beef two or three times a week, or two households splitting the share.
- You have 16-20 cubic feet of freezer space, or are willing to buy a chest freezer.
- You can transport several hundred pounds of frozen beef from Longview, WA.
- You want the lowest price per pound we offer and a freezer stocked for the year.
A share is a poor fit if you only like a few cuts. It is also a poor fit if you cannot store the meat or reach Longview, WA for pickup. A smaller share, or splitting one with another household, may work better.
Fall 2026 beef shares are sold out
Send us a note and we'll get back to you when next season's shares open.
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