We are sold out for 2024
Beef for Sale by the Quarter, Half, or Whole Cow
We sell cows once a year by the quarter, half, or whole. They are pastured here at Seven Springs Farm using a rotational grazing system that gives them a fresh lush pasture every day or two. They have eaten only grass (including clovers and a variety of forage plants found in the pasture) supplemented with mineral rich kelp, and have had no drugs of any kind. Purchasing part of a grass fed cow is the most economical, nourishing and sustainable way to consume beef as part of your diet. Ruminant animals have a special relationship with grass. Together they create topsoil, which is the source of most of the nutrients in the food we eat. Cows are ruminants, and grass is their perfect food. Rotational grazing is an attempt to mimic nature by moving the cows to different pastures regularly, as they would in the wild. This improves the health of both the cows and the grass.
The price for 2024 is $5.30 hanging weight. It includes all butchering costs. You will have a chance to choose the cuts you want (steaks, roasts, etc.).
The hanging weight is the whole carcass before it is cut into roasts, steaks, etc. Typically the hanging weight is about 60% 0f the live weight of the steer. The carcass is then cut, packed and frozen, losing another 45-48% of weight in bones and scrap. We have no control over the exact weight of the animal (generally 900-1100 lbs.), or the exact take home weight.
Here is an example of what you may pay, depending on the size of the animal.
Quarter $500-$800
Half $1000-$1600
Whole $2000-$3200
If you have a preference for either a smaller or larger cow, you may indicate that in the Comments section of the order form, and we will do our best to accommodate your request.
The meat will be processed at Dodson Meat Processing, 3846 Elamsville Rd. Stuart, VA 24171. It will be vacuum packed and frozen, and ready for you to pick up on a Saturday in early December.
Which Section of the Cow Am I Buying?
If you purchase a half, you will receive either a full left or a full right side of the cow which includes all of the sections described in the Butchering Chart.
If you purchase a quarter, you are sharing a half of a cow (left or right side) with another customer who also purchased a quarter. The cuts from both quarters will be taken from all the sections described in the Butchering Chart. When you fill out your order form, you may choose cuts from any or all sections of the cow.