Hanging Weight vs. Actual Meat

Our family has always raised our own beef cattle, and I never really thought about how much meat was in a quarter of an animal.  I knew that there was a significant amount of weight lost from the live animal to hanging animal, because the hide, feet, head, and entrails are removed and blood is drained.  I knew that the hanging weight was not the actual weight of the meat that we received, but I never thought about what that meant until a buyer asked.  My husband and I purchased a quarter, weighed it, and did some math to provide our buyers with information.  

Matt Fields told us that we keep about 62-63% of the meat that is hung when the animal is cut up.  He was right!  

Let me walk you though a breakdown of the quarter that we bought (keep in mind that weights vary): 

We do not weigh the cow when it is live, so I don't have an actual live weight.  Maybe that will be next!

Hanging Whole Cow Weight: 718 lbs.  

Total Cost of a Quarter:

((718lbs/4)($3.50/lb.+.82/lb))+(21.25)= $796.69

*This is (Weight of whole cow divided by 4)(Our fee)(Cut,Wrap, Freeze fee) +(Slaughter fee)= Total Cost

We weighed the coolers of meat when we brought them home.  

Actual Weight of the Meat: 112.2 lb.  

62.5% of the Hanging Weight is what we put into our freezer. 

Final Cost: $7.10 per pound 

That is definitely more than $4.25 per pound, but you are getting steaks, roasts, stew meat, hamburg, etc. for $7.10/lb., and you know the source and handling of your meat.  Check out the cost of the beef that you purchase in the store and compare.