Whole Beef Buying Questions?
FAQs
How much meat do I get from a pastured steer, and how much does it cost?
Our steers are typically butchered at 36 months with an ‘only butcher when ready’ mentality. It takes 3 years on high protein forage to get proper marbling without grain feeding. Our steers typically finish at 1200-1600 pounds live weight, with dressed weight at 575-830 pounds. Dress weight, also known as hanging weight, or rail weight, is described as the weight of the steer minus the head, the hide, and the guts other than major organs. On average, dressed weight is 50-60% of live weight, and packaged weight is 50-60% dressed weight. So on a 1200 pound steer, you would expect to receive 350-400 pounds of packaged meat. Please note, as of March 2026 our average dress weight for steers has consistently been 740 lbs. to 830 lbs. with actual meat weights between 450-500 pounds. The current price for a half steer or whole steer is $10 per pound calculated off dress weight.
There is a $2000 deposit for whole steers and a $1000 deposit on half steers, with the balance due at pickup or delivery. To place a deposit, click here.
How long will it take to get my custom cut beef?
We typically have steers going to the butcher every month. Our steers hang for 28 days prior to final packaging and flash freezing. Currently lead time from finalized cut list to delivery is 7 weeks. If the cut list is standard, the lead time can be as short as 4 weeks.
How much freezer space will I need for a whole cow?
A whole cow fits comfortably in a 16 cubic foot chest freezer. You can usually squeeze it into a 14 cubic foot but you will not have room to find anything.
Do you ship whole cows?
Yes, we do. All over the country. All freight worked out on a per order basis. Contact us for more information.
Do I get liver, heart and oxtail? What if I don’t want them?
Yes, all whole cow shares include Liver, heart, oxtail. A $50 credit is provided if you prefer to skip offals.
Do you have a standard cut list or what cuts am I able to get?
One can get every single cut from the animal, or the whole cow can be ground as the most amazing hamburger. We offer total flexibility. We do have a standard cut list which can be found here.
Can I order individual cuts or curated boxes?
Yes, sign up for the Apeiron Farms Food Club for access to our shopping cart for configurable protein boxes and individual cut availability.
Do you have a ground beef subscription?
Yes, there is a monthly ground beef subscription but currently there is a waiting list due to high demand. When subscription slots open up, we send out an email, Join our email list to get notified.