Short answer: Texas farms we checked post $5.15 to $11.00 per lb hanging weight for a half, with a median of $7.50 per lb hanging weight across the 19 farms that post a per-pound price for a half. The farms' own estimates for a half run about $1,750 to $4,000. Ranches that sell halves at one flat price ask $1,500 to $3,317.61, and one charges $8.50 per lb freezer weight (the packaged beef you take home). Hanging-weight and take-home-weight prices aren't directly comparable. Hanging-weight prices are charged on the carcass weight before cutting, so you take home less than that weight. Ask the farm what's included. Your total depends on the animal's size, whether processing is included and how you have it cut. Buying a half stocks your freezer for months, and many ranches let you choose your cuts.
Half-cow prices from farm websites (checked Oct 28, 2026)
| Farm | Half price as posted | Price basis | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muenster Grass Fed (Muenster) | $5.15 per lb hanging weight Lean, $5.25 Premium, for the 2027 harvest | Per lb hanging weight | Paid to the processor, about $1.31 per lb at Fischer's[1] |
| Hill Brothers' Cattle (Yantis) | $5.50 per lb hanging weight; the farm's example is a 325 lb half = $1,787.50 | Per lb hanging weight | Not stated[2] |
| Diamond H Family Ranch (Northeast Texas) | $6.00 per lb hanging weight, with processing and delivery | Per lb hanging weight | Included[3] |
| Law Ranch (Crosby) | $6.25 per lb hanging weight (as of April 2, 2026); the farm estimates $2,050 to $2,500 | Per lb hanging weight | Not stated[4] |
| Cibolo Creek Cattle Company (Boerne) | Angus $6.45, grass fed $6.91, Wagyu $7.37 per lb hanging weight; an Angus half is about $2,580 to $3,075 for 400 to 475 lb hanging | Per lb hanging weight | Not stated[5] |
| Hughes Ranch (Waskom) | $6.50 per lb hanging weight; the farm puts an average half with processing at $1,980 for about 180 lb of beef | Per lb hanging weight | Paid to Panola Processing[6] |
| Blessings Ranch (Tomball) | $7.00 per lb hanging weight; the farm estimates $1,750 for about 250 lb hanging | Per lb hanging weight | Not stated[7] |
| Red Rock Land & Cattle Co. (Red Rock) | $7.00 per lb hanging weight for a side of about 350 lb hanging | Per lb hanging weight | Not stated[8] |
| Wyatt Cattle & Beef (Floresville) | $7.00 per lb hanging weight; halves aren't custom cut | Per lb hanging weight | Included[9] |
| Ellison Land & Cattle (Bushland) | $7.50 per lb hanging weight; the farm estimates $2,625 for about 350 lb hanging and about 210 lb take-home | Per lb hanging weight | Included[10] |
| +S Brahman Beef (Fredericksburg) | $7.50 per lb hanging weight on the half-steer order page, for 350 to 450 lb hanging; the home page shows a lower rate, so confirm with the farm | Per lb hanging weight | Not stated[11][12] |
| Lilly's Leaf Farm (Bellville) | $8.00 per lb hanging weight, whole, half or split side; pre-orders open | Per lb hanging weight | Not stated[13] |
| The Clark Ranch (Bay City) | $8.50 per lb hanging weight; taking deposits now | Per lb hanging weight | Not stated[14] |
| RR Wilderness Ranch (Bonham) | $8.50 per lb hanging weight, the final price the page states; the same page also advertises a $7.25 sale rate, so confirm with the farm | Per lb hanging weight | Included, with free DFW delivery[15] |
| Holland Cattle Company (Marble Falls) | $8.99 per lb hanging weight; the farm's example half is about $2,157.60 | Per lb hanging weight | Standard processing included[16] |
| 1488 Farms (Waller) | $9.00 per lb hanging weight plus sales tax; the farm has seen $2,200 to $4,000 for a half | Per lb hanging weight | Included[17] |
| TX Farmhouse (Groveton) | $10.00 per lb hanging weight; the farm's approximate total is $2,750 for about 275 lb hanging; sold out | Per lb hanging weight | Not stated[18] |
| Bastrop Cattle Co. (Bastrop) | $10.75 per lb hanging weight; the farm's example is 210 lb = $2,257.50 | Per lb hanging weight | Not stated[19] |
| Southern Oak Pastures (pickup in Wills Point or Salado) | $11.00 per lb hanging weight; the farm says a half yields about 220 to 248 lb of meat; waitlist | Per lb hanging weight | Not stated[20] |
| Rancho Ojo de Agua (San Antonio) | $8.50 per lb freezer weight (the packaged beef you take home); the farm estimates about 250 lb, about $2,060 | Per lb freezer weight (the packaged beef you take home) | Included[21] |
| HeartLands Farm & Ranch (Edinburg) | $1,500 for about 200 lb of beef | Flat price | Included[22] |
| J Shiloh Ranch (Carthage) | $1,650 (Braford, Brangus or Hereford) or $2,000 (Angus) | Flat price | Included[23] |
| Brazos Valley Beef (Bryan) | $2,500 for 220 lb of finished beef | Flat price | Included[24] |
| Parker County Beef Company (Springtown) | $2,999 delivered, for 230+ lb of beef | Flat price | Included[25] |
| Long Road Ranch (Georgetown) | $3,250 for 180 to 220 lb | Flat price | Included[26] |
| Elkins Cattle Co (Lampasas) | $3,317.61 for about 230 lb of beef, dry-aged | Flat price | Included[27] |
Hanging weight vs. what you take home
Most Texas ranches charge by hanging weight, the weight of the carcass before it's cut. You take home less once bone and trim come off. Ellison Land & Cattle says a half that hangs about 350 lb gives about 210 lb of take-home beef. Hughes Ranch says an average half hangs about 300 lb and yields about 180 lb. Rancho Ojo de Agua in San Antonio does it the other way and charges per lb freezer weight (the packaged beef you take home). Hanging-weight and take-home-weight prices aren't directly comparable. Hanging-weight prices are charged on the carcass weight before cutting, so you take home less than that weight. Ask the farm what's included.
Is processing included?
Ask before you compare, because it changes the math. Many Texas ranches fold processing into the price: Diamond H Family Ranch, Wyatt Cattle & Beef, Ellison Land & Cattle, Holland Cattle Company, 1488 Farms and RR Wilderness Ranch say so for their per-lb rates, and the flat-price ranches (HeartLands Farm & Ranch, J Shiloh Ranch, Brazos Valley Beef, Parker County Beef Company, Long Road Ranch and Elkins Cattle Co) sell finished, packaged beef. Muenster Grass Fed and Hughes Ranch have you pay the processor yourself. Muenster puts that at about $1.31 per lb at Fischer's. Many others don't say, so ask.
Angus, grass fed or Wagyu
Cibolo Creek Cattle Company in Boerne prices all three on one page, which makes for a clean comparison: Angus $6.45, grass fed $6.91 and Wagyu $7.37 per lb hanging weight. Long Road Ranch (Georgetown), Evridge Farms (Midkiff, Akaushi), HeartLands Farm & Ranch (Edinburg, Wagyu/Angus) and Wyatt Cattle & Beef (Floresville, a Wagyu whole calf) also sell Wagyu-type beef. Texas breeds show up in prices too: J Shiloh Ranch charges less for Braford, Brangus or Hereford than for Angus, and +S Brahman Beef raises Brahman cattle in the Hill Country.
Budget for these too
- Deposit: Texas ranches that post one ask $190 to $1,400 to hold a half. Cibolo Creek Cattle Company asks $190, most ask $200 to $650, Cross M Beef asks $800, and RR Wilderness Ranch lists a non-refundable $1,400 sale deposit (regularly $1,500). Some say deposits are non-refundable, so read the terms.
- Butcher fees: if processing isn't included, budget for it. Muenster Grass Fed estimates its Premium half at about $9.92 per lb take-home weight all in.
- Freezer space: a half needs about 8 cubic feet.[31]
- Sales tax and card fees: 1488 Farms adds sales tax, and The Clark Ranch, TX Farmhouse and Muenster Grass Fed charge more for card payments.
- Timing: good shares go early. Falster Farm, Southern Oak Pastures and TX Farmhouse show sold out or a waitlist, while Ellison Land & Cattle, Holland Cattle Company, The Clark Ranch, Lilly's Leaf Farm and Bastrop Cattle Co. are taking orders now. Muenster Grass Fed says its 2027 orders begin Nov 2.
FAQ
How much is half a cow in Texas?
Ranches we checked post $5.15 to $11.00 per lb hanging weight for a half, with a median of $7.50 per lb hanging weight. The farms' own estimates for a half run about $1,750 to $4,000, and flat-price halves run $1,500 to $3,317.61.
Does the price include processing?
Often, in Texas. Diamond H Family Ranch, Wyatt Cattle & Beef, Ellison Land & Cattle, Holland Cattle Company, 1488 Farms and RR Wilderness Ranch include it in their per-lb rate. Muenster Grass Fed and Hughes Ranch have you pay the processor separately. Many ranches don't say, so ask before you compare.
How much meat is in half a cow?
It depends on the animal and the cuts. For example, Southern Oak Pastures says a half yields about 220 to 248 lb of meat, Parker County Beef Company lists 230+ lb, Elkins Cattle Co about 230 lb, Brazos Valley Beef 220 lb, Ellison Land & Cattle about 210 lb, HeartLands Farm & Ranch about 200 lb, and Hughes Ranch about 180 lb.
Other states: How much does half a cow cost in Florida? · How much does half a cow cost in Michigan? · How much does half a cow cost in Indiana? · How much does half a cow cost in Ohio? · How much does half a cow cost in Pennsylvania? · How much does half a cow cost in Wisconsin?
Sources
- Muenster Grass Fed (Muenster, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- Hill Brothers' Cattle (Yantis, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- Diamond H Family Ranch (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- Law Ranch (Crosby, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- Cibolo Creek Cattle Company (Boerne, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- Hughes Ranch (Waskom, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- Blessings Ranch (Tomball, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- Red Rock Land & Cattle Co. (Red Rock, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- Wyatt Cattle & Beef (Floresville, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- Ellison Land & Cattle (Bushland, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- +S Brahman Beef (Fredericksburg, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- +S Brahman Beef (Fredericksburg, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- Lilly's Leaf Farm (Bellville, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- The Clark Ranch (Bay City, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- RR Wilderness Ranch (Bonham, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- Holland Cattle Company (Marble Falls, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- 1488 Farms (Waller, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- TX Farmhouse (Groveton, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- Bastrop Cattle Co. (Bastrop, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- Southern Oak Pastures (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- Rancho Ojo de Agua (San Antonio, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- HeartLands Farm & Ranch (Edinburg, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- J Shiloh Ranch (Carthage, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- Brazos Valley Beef (Bryan, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- Parker County Beef Company (Springtown, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- Long Road Ranch (Georgetown, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- Elkins Cattle Co (Lampasas, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- Cross M Beef (near Bowie, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- Falster Farm (Winnsboro, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- Evridge Farms (Midkiff, TX) (seen Oct 28, 2026)
- University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Bulletin #1071: What To Expect When Buying A Freezer Beef (extension bulletin)
Prices on this page are examples from the farm websites listed in Sources, checked on Oct 28, 2026, plus our own arithmetic, and they can change. Each farm sets its own prices and terms. Beef Share Finder isn't the seller and isn't part of your purchase, so confirm the price, what it includes and the deposit terms with the farm before you pay.