BATES GRASS-FED BEEF
California Hot Springs
5.0(10)Local beef supplier in California Hot Springs, Nevada. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Half a cow in California costs $3,000-4,500 ($12.00-16.00/lb take-home). There are 90 local suppliers to choose from. Best time to buy: May-July. Most farms offer grass-fed beef.
Jump to the 90 suppliers ↓See the full half a cow price breakdown →California has 5.05 million total cattle with 630,000 dedicated beef cows. The state is bifurcated: the Central Valley dominates dairy and grain-finished beef, while Marin, Sonoma, and the North Coast produce premium grass-fed beef for the Bay Area market. Multi-year droughts have contracted herds, but regenerative ranching is thriving on the coast.
Half cow: $3,000-4,500
Hanging weight: $7.00-10.00/lb
Take-home: $12.00-16.00/lb
Peak season: May-July
The 'green season' harvest (May-July) produces peak quality grass-fed beef - cattle are at maximum marbling after grazing high-sugar spring grasses. Fall (September-November) faces severe processing bottlenecks from hunting season. Book shares in January-March for summer delivery.
Black Angus, Red Angus, Hereford, Brahman crosses
Typical practice: Grass-fed
Don't wait until fall - the processing bottleneck is brutal. Pre-order in early spring for a May-July harvest when grass-fed quality peaks. If you're in LA, join a 'buying club' that aggregates orders for delivery from Central Coast ranches to reduce food miles.
Let us find you a farm in California
We'll connect you with a nearby farm, butcher, or co-op selling quarter, half, or whole beef. Free, no accounts, and only one farm gets your contact details.
These farms have half a beef for sale in California — most also sell 1/2 and 1/4 cow shares direct from the farm, priced by hanging weight.
California Hot Springs
5.0(10)Local beef supplier in California Hot Springs, Nevada. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Fresno
5.0(3)Dot Seven Ranch raises premium Angus cattle in eastern Fresno County and offers half and whole live-animal beef shares with custom cut and wrap. The ranch publishes both grass- and grain-finished production options, subject to availability.
Tomales
5.0(8)Historic family ranch in Tomales focused on conservation and sustainable grazing practices.
San Juan Bautista
5.0(15)100% pasture-raised beef grown on the California Central Coast. Sustainable ranching with quality grass-fed beef.
Nevada City
5.0(2)Community-focused operation with foothill grazing in Nevada City.
Oregon House
5.0(1)Large regenerative operator in Oregon House with wide distribution across California.
Escondido
4.9(114)Historic ranch in Escondido offering grass-fed beef, tours, and direct sales.
Anza
4.9(42)CSA model including beef from high desert production in Anza.
Tehachapi
4.8(44)Brite Creek Farms in Tehachapi offers grass-fed, grass-finished beef in eighth, quarter, half and whole shares. On September 20, 2026, its half-beef page advertised October 2026 orders with scheduled home delivery. Farm pickup is also offered. Confirm the processing date, Castaic delivery route or collection arrangements directly. The mapped address is the farm store entrance published with its 2026 hours.
Huntington Beach
4.8(13)Buy Ranch Direct is a cooperative of family-owned California ranches selling grass-fed, grass-finished beef cuts and freezer boxes. Its current FAQ says sides of beef are not offered. Orders can ship within the contiguous United States or be collected at participating Southern California farmers markets. The Huntington Beach address represents its warehouse, not a ranch; confirm warehouse pickup arrangements before visiting.
San Diego
4.8(542)Local beef supplier in San Diego, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Diamond Springs
4.8(187)Local beef supplier in Diamond Springs, Nevada. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Visalia
4.8(4)Local beef supplier in Visalia, Nevada. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Valley Ford
4.8(15)Wagyu/Angus crosses with intense focus on ecology and oak woodlands in Valley Ford.
Woodland
4.8(30)Woodland operation famous for their jerky and grass-fed beef products.
San Simeon
4.7(35)One of California's largest historic ranches in San Simeon. Grass-fed beef from vast rangelands.
Tomales
4.7(88)Leader in regenerative agriculture offering 100% grass-fed Angus beef. Ships nationwide and offers local pickup in Tomales.
Paso Robles
4.6(159)Grass-fed Angus operation in Paso Robles wine country.
Fort Jones
4.6(47)Famous Black Angus operation based in Siskiyou County, serving the Bay Area heavily. Known for quality branding and direct sales.
Half Moon Bay
4.6(21)High-profile regenerative operation on the San Mateo Coast managed by Doniga Markegard, known for holistic land management.
San Diego
4.6(94)San Diego grass-fed beef with 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, and whole beef options. Variety of cuts from pasture-raised cattle.
Murrieta
4.6(153)Regenerative focus operation in Murrieta, heavily online with chicken and beef offerings.
Coalinga
4.4(14406)California's largest beef producer in Coalinga. Grain-finished, consistent quality available via shipping and at their dedicated inn/restaurant.
Grass Valley
4.3(12)Local beef supplier in Grass Valley, Nevada. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Point Reyes Station
4.3(56)Operates the last slaughterhouse in the Bay Area. Institutional quality with certified organic options from Point Reyes.
Janesville
4.2(10)Local beef supplier in Janesville, Nevada. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Mariposa
4.2(29)California pasture-raised, grass-fed, grass-finished beef. No antibiotics, steroids, or mRNA. No herbicides or pesticides on pastures.
Simi Valley
4.1(13)Novy Ranches raises grass-fed beef in Northern California and sells individual cuts through its Simi Valley store and online shop. The mapped address is the retail store, not the cattle ranch. Store pickup and shipping within the contiguous United States are advertised. Quarter, half and whole beef shares are not established by the current public catalog; contact the business before requesting a share.
Trabuco Canyon
4.0(3)One of the few authentic SoCal grass-fed producers with rare proximity to Orange County and LA.
Tracy
4.0(4)150-year-old ranch in Tracy offering grass-fed natural beef, close to the Bay Area.
Hanford
3.3(93)Large scale processor and supplier in Hanford offering bulk boxes and wholesale beef.
Mokelumne Hill
Arbuckle Cattle Co. offers quarter, half and whole grass-fed and grass-finished beef near Mokelumne Hill, shown approximately on the map. Buyers collect at the ranch by appointment or at an arranged public delivery location. The site lists spring 2027 as the next beef availability.
Oakdale
Ardis Cattle Co. raises cattle on open rangeland near Oakdale and grain-finishes selected steers before harvest. Its program includes whole, half and split-quarter shares, along with individual cuts, bundles and subscriptions. Map location is approximate, based on Oakdale, California. Contact the farm for the exact collection or delivery arrangements.
Oroville
Bamford Cattle Sales offers half and whole beef from cattle raised near Oroville. Call the ranch to reserve a share and arrange pickup. The site says beef is sold year-round, but collection dates need to be confirmed.
Monterey
Big Sur Bovine offers quarter, half and whole grass-finished beef from the Doud family ranch. Buyers contact the ranch to arrange pricing, availability and delivery. Cattle are offered seasonally in spring and summer, and the map shows an approximate Monterey town location rather than the ranch.
Gilroy
BR Beef offers quarter, half and whole beef from the Bianchi family ranches. Buyers arrange collection at scheduled pickup points, including the Tractor Supply parking lot in Gilroy. Quarter and half orders cannot be shipped, and share availability should be checked before ordering.
Offers eighth, quarter, half and whole grass-fed, grass-finished beef. Buyers can collect at the Durham farm or its markets, with weekly delivery to Chico, Durham and Oroville and US shipping also advertised. Confirm share allocation and the chosen collection or delivery date with the farm.
Ontario
Bryan and Sons offers quarter, half and whole shares from its pasture-raised, grass-fed and grass-finished beef program in Ontario. A separate American Wagyu program sources grain-fed cattle from another farmer and offers half and whole shares. Custom-cut shares generally take four to five weeks after reservation. Arrange pickup or delivery within the published Ontario-area service range; the FAQ describes delivery within 50 miles, subject to destination confirmation. The map shows an approximate Ontario location, not a farm entrance or collection point.
Corona
The Camery family raises pasture-based, grain-finished beef in the Corona area and offers quarter, half and whole shares. Half and whole orders can be custom cut; quarters use a standard cut sheet. Contact Sarah to confirm availability and the next processing date. The farm publishes local delivery around Corona, Riverside and Orange County; confirm your exact address and delivery arrangements directly. The map shows an approximate Corona location, not a farm entrance or pickup point.
Campo Creek Cattle Company offers quarter, half and whole beef on the hoof, with a waitlist. Buyers choose a butcher, pay processing separately and collect finished cuts there. The map point represents Campo approximately, and the published contact address is not a confirmed share pickup point.
Santa Ysabel
Carrisito Ranch sells half and whole beef, with grass-finished and grain-finished options. Contact the ranch to arrange custom processing and pickup; the map point is approximate for Santa Ysabel. Harvests are seasonal, and grass finishing depends on grass growth and weather.
King City
Casey Redtail Ranch offers eighth, quarter, half and whole grass-fed and grass-finished beef. Buyers can collect at the King City ranch or its butcher partner in Paso Robles, with paid local delivery subject to arrangements. Eighth and whole reservations are unavailable, while quarter and half reservations are enabled with variable processing times.
Lancaster
CG Cattle Company raises beef in West Lancaster, California, and offers seasonal quarter, half and whole shares once per year. Processing is through Barstow Country Butchering. Customers pick up their beef from the butcher or arrange local delivery directly with the ranch; shipping is not available. Contact the ranch to confirm the next share availability and receiving arrangements. The map shows an approximate Lancaster location, not the ranch entrance or butcher pickup point.
Woodlake
Woodlake family ranch offering citrus-finished beef shares. The current site says beef is sold out for2026 and accepts future deposits. Half and whole shares require farm pickup; arrange the exact collection address and next harvest before ordering. Quarter-share terms differ, so ask about the requested portion. The map is an approximate Woodlake town point.
Bakersfield
Covenant Pastures offers half and whole grass-fed, grass-finished beef through a live-animal purchase. Buyers collect the processed beef from a butcher in Bakersfield; the farm does not deliver or ship. It is taking limited fall and winter 2026 reservations, and the map shows the approximate Bakersfield area.
Cedarville
Cow Creek Meat at Arreche Farms sells quarter, half and whole grain-finished beef shares, along with pork, lamb and chicken. Collection is available at the Cedarville farm, delivery to Alturas runs on Thursdays, and meat can ship to all 50 states. Beef shares ship in several boxes with additional shipping costs, and whole shares are marked sold out with instructions to inquire about cut choices.
Offers quarter and half shares of Belted Galloway beef raised on the Hanna family ranch. Buyers collect at the Etna ranch or arrange local delivery, and share products exclude shipping. The June 2026 share products were sold out when checked.
Lake Elsinore
Wild game and beef operation in Lake Elsinore, regular at Southern California farmers markets.
Orland
Offers quarter and half beef from cattle raised on pasture with grain supplementation. The farm schedules local home delivery after processing; the map uses an approximate Orland town point. Its undated page describes spring and fall harvests, so buyers should confirm the next allocation.
Paicines
Ells Cattle Ranch offers half beef shares from pasture-raised, grain-finished cattle. Buyers collect their custom-cut beef at Freedom Meat Lockers in the Watsonville area and pay processing separately. The enabled reservation still names a past summer 2026 harvest window, so buyers need a current date; the map shows an approximate Paicines town location.
Catheys Valley
Flying B Beef raises pasture-based California cattle in Catheys Valley and offers grain-finished quarter, half, and whole shares, plus a seasonal grass-finished whole. Bulk shares are USDA inspected, vacuum sealed, frozen, and delivered free within about an hour of Catheys Valley.
Santa Ysabel
Flying F Ranch offers half and whole beef with custom cuts. Buyers collect shares from the butcher in Perris; the map point is approximate for the ranch’s Santa Ysabel locality. Shares are offered seasonally, and the current half-share product is marked sold out.
Mariposa
Jesse and Hannah Fouch raise grass-fed, grass-finished beef in Mariposa, offering quarters, halves and wholes. Pickup is at the farm or arranged California drop points, including Fresno. Reservations usually open in January for May–August harvest; confirm current availability. The map marks approximate Mariposa locality, not an entrance.
Grass Valley
Fowler Meat Company offers quarter, half and whole grass-fed and grass-finished beef in the Grass Valley area, shown approximately on the map. Buyers pay the remaining balance at pickup and can arrange collection with the farm. The beef deposit pages specify spring 2027.
Descanso
Garbani Ranch sells half and whole beef on the hoof from a few steers each year. Arrange processing and collection with the ranch. The map shows the approximate Descanso area.
Bakersfield
Grisedale Ranch Beef sells eighth, quarter, half and whole shares of grass-fed, grain-finished beef. Shares can be delivered in Bakersfield or shipped within California, Nevada, Oregon and Arizona. Reserve through the website and confirm fulfillment timing with the ranch.
Millville
Offers quarter, half and whole beef through separate grass-finished and grain-finished programs. Buyers collect from A&R Meats in Red Bluff or arrange delivery with the ranch; the map is an approximate Millville town point. Fall reservations are advertised, but the October grain-finished half was unavailable when checked.
Hornitos
Hornitos Beef is the Erickson family cattle ranch in Hornitos, California. It offers quarter, half and whole beef shares, plus 24-pound combo boxes. In a September 15, 2026 reply, the ranch confirmed year-round harvesting and local delivery or meetup by arrangement. Confirm your harvest date and collection or delivery details before reserving. Map location is approximate, based on Hornitos, California. Contact the farm for the exact collection or delivery arrangements.
Woodland
Hungry Hollow Cattle Company offers quarter and half beef near Woodland, shown approximately on the map. Arrange pickup with the farm or ask about delivery to its listed nearby cities. Advance orders require a deposit.
Nicolaus
J and J Branded Beef offers quarter, half and whole beef with grass-finished or grain-finished options. Pickup is required at the processor, including Gold Country Meat Company in Auburn or Country Butcher in Marysville. The business has a Nicolaus contact address and moves to a waitlist when seasonal reservations fill.
Offers eighth, quarter, half and whole beef from its Etna cattle, finished with homegrown barley while on pasture. Frozen shares are shipped after harvest, with the date communicated when ordering. Confirm the shipping destination and allocation with the ranch before reserving.
Paicines
JNB Ranch offers quarter, half and whole grain-finished beef, with a separate grass-finished option sold only as a whole animal. Buyers arrange processing through Tri-Way Meats in Hollister with the ranch. The site is quoting its 2027 season, and the map shows an approximate Paicines town location.
Koopmann Family Beef offers quarter, half and whole beef, with ranch collection in Sunol or delivery by arrangement. Its verified share product is grain-finished. The share product is sold out and an older 2025 bulk-order banner remains, so buyers should confirm the next allocation.
Salinas
Marble Mountain Meats offers quarter and half beef from its ranch in Northern California. Buyers can arrange collection at its Salinas distribution office, or shipping within the contiguous United States. Shares can take two to six weeks, and the map shows an approximate Salinas town location rather than the ranch or office entrance.
Descanso
Merigan Ranch Cattle Co. sells half and whole beef raised on its family ranch. Buyers arrange custom cuts with the butcher, pay processing separately and collect the finished beef there. The map point is approximate for Descanso, and current harvest timing must be arranged with the ranch.
Paso Robles
Family-run Angus Cross beef ranch on 4,500 acres in California's Central Coast. Offers both grain-finished and grass-finished whole, half, and quarter beef with on-site processing through their own butcher shop, Ranchita Meat Company.
Garden Valley
Mountain Lake Cattle Co. offers quarter, half and whole grass-finished beef with a deposit before processing. Bulk orders are limited and a waiting list is used when stock runs out; arrange pickup details with the ranch. The map shows an approximate location in Garden Valley.
Delano
Old Stage Angus offers quarter, half and whole beef, with halves and wholes sold through a waitlist and quarters assembled from frozen cuts. Arrange pickup with the ranch after it confirms timing; shipping is not offered. The map shows the approximate Delano area.
Paicines
Paicines Ranch offers quarter and half cow packages from its grass-fed cattle. These share packages are marked for ranch pickup only, arranged through its meat store. Cut contents can vary with availability, so buyers should confirm timing before ordering.
Anderson
Offers quarter, half and whole beef from pasture-raised, grain-finished cattle. Pickup or local delivery is scheduled after processing, and the map uses an approximate Anderson town point. Summer orders are sold out, with winter orders advertised for early January or February 2027.
Macdoel
Prather Ranch sells quarter beef for collection at its Macdoel ranch or at scheduled pickup points, including a recurring Redding pickup at the TA Truck Stop on Knighton Road. Confirm the next pickup date and quarter availability when ordering.
Rio Vista
R&W Livestock offers half and whole beef from its Rio Vista operation. Buyers can choose cuts with the processor, and the share page offers refrigerated delivery to the buyer’s address. Confirm the harvest schedule and collection or delivery arrangements with the ranch.
Grass Valley
Rancho Machete offers quarter, half and whole beef from cattle raised outside Grass Valley, shown approximately on the map. Contact the ranch to arrange pickup or delivery. Share requests require the ranch to confirm availability before taking a deposit.
Caliente
Historic family ranch in Walker Basin near Caliente selling quarter, half and whole beef. The current half-beef page accepts December reservations and includes delivery within 150 miles; California shipping or personal large-order delivery is arranged outside local collection areas. Headquarters pickup is available. Confirm dates and destination before reserving.
Cottonwood
Rockin H Cattle offers quarter, half and whole beef by deposit through an inquiry form. Arrange pickup or delivery with the ranch. The map shows the approximate Cottonwood area.
Oroville
Rosa Ranch offers quarter, half and whole beef shares from its Oroville operation. Buyers can arrange pickup or direct delivery in Sacramento and Butte Counties. Contact the ranch to confirm a harvest and collection or delivery date.
Pleasanton
Shining B Cattle Co. offers quarter, half and whole grain-finished beef with arranged pickup. Its pages describe local collection in the Pleasanton/Livermore area or at Lepe’s Meat Co. in Santa Rosa, with the exact local address supplied after invoicing. Shares are sold out, and the map shows an approximate Pleasanton town location.
Tracy
Silva Ranch offers quarter, half and whole beef with a choice of grass or grain finishing. Buyers collect their cut and frozen beef directly from the local butcher arranged by the ranch. Harvests are seasonal, and the map shows an approximate Tracy town location.
Newcastle
Family farm in Newcastle offering pasture-raised beef, pork and lamb. Beef is sold by the half or whole, with collection or delivery arrangements confirmed directly with the farm.
Santa Paula
Bud and Kim Sloan raise pasture-based, grain-finished cattle in Ventura County and offer custom-cut half and whole beef shares. Reserve two halves for a whole animal. Standard share pickup is coordinated by Old Fashion Country Butcher in Santa Paula after processing; the map marks that processor, not the ranch. Processing and slaughter charges are paid separately. Checked September 21, 2026: the share page mentions October/November without a year, followed by roughly a month before pickup. Confirm the current harvest schedule and allocation by email before reserving.
Oceanside
SonRise Ranch offers quarter, half and whole grass-finished beef through its Local-Beef store. Buyers can collect at scheduled Southern California meet-ups or arrange paid home delivery; its Oceanside address is a warehouse and office, while cattle are raised elsewhere. The share page asks buyers to allow about eight weeks from ordering to freezer.
Fort Jones
Offers a half beef of approximately 170 to 185 pounds of packaged organic, grass-fed and grass-finished meat. This bulk product ships to the contiguous 48 US states, with Alaska and Hawaii excluded. It is made to order, with one to two weeks of processing stated depending on inventory.
Vacaville
Summerfield Cattle Co. offers quarter, half and whole beef in the Vacaville area, shown approximately on the map. Contact the farm to arrange pickup or delivery. Orders generally take one to three months, depending on cattle availability.
Auburn
T-Bones Meat Shop offers custom quarter and half beef orders from its shop on Combie Road in the Auburn area. Call or visit the shop to order and arrange pickup. The share page states a two-week lead time.
Templeton
Local family operation on the Central Coast using dry-land farming techniques.
Los Molinos
TX Bar Grassfed is a family cattle ranch at Los Molinos in the northern Sacramento Valley selling whole and half beef, 100% grass-fed and grass-finished. Shares are reserved with a deposit ($1,075 half, $2,000 whole) and collected from the ranch's butcher partner, with service across far northern California and southern Oregon.
Marysville
Wheatland Natural Meats sells quarter and half beef shares from its family ranch and operates Double Z’s butcher storefront in Marysville. Shares are collected from the butcher, with processing fees paid separately. Contact the farm to confirm timing and the collection location.
Offers quarter, half and whole grass-fed beef from its Etna ranch. Delivery and regional drop-off locations are arranged with the farm, and the map uses an approximate Etna town point. The offering page is undated, so buyers should confirm the next harvest and allocation.
Sage
Jarod and Moriah operate XX Ranch in Sage, continuing the Wilson Ranch family operation and raising California Angus cattle. This listing covers whole beef shares with published local delivery within 200 miles. Checked September 21, 2026: the farm advertises Fall 2026 reservations; confirm the available harvest date, destination and delivery schedule directly. Feeding and finishing details are not specified. The map shows an approximate Sage location, not a ranch entrance.
Browns Valley
Yuba Valley Ranch offers quarter, half and whole grass-fed and grass-finished beef near Browns Valley, shown approximately on the map. Standard-cut shares include local home delivery, while custom-cut shares are collected from the butcher. Harvests run from March through October, excluding July and August, and reservations are limited.
Explore suppliers in neighboring states - many offer delivery or are worth the drive.
California is expensive - expect $3,000-4,500 for a half cow. Premium grass-fed from Marin/Sonoma runs $8-10/lb hanging weight (360 lbs = $2,880-3,600). Add $225 slaughter and $1.25/lb processing ($450). Your effective take-home cost is $12-16/lb - steep for ground beef but competitive with $35+ ribeyes at specialty markets.
Three factors: (1) Extreme land values near urban centers (Marin competes with vineyards and estates), (2) chronic drought cycles force expensive hay imports ($250+/ton), and (3) severe processor shortages allow facilities to charge premium rates. The 'California premium' is 15-30% above national averages.
The green season (May-July) is optimal. California grasses peak in spring - by summer they dry to golden stalks. Cattle harvested in early summer have maximum marbling from high-sugar forage. Avoid October-December when processors are backed up with hunting season and 4-H animals. Pre-order in January-March.
Custom Exempt means you buy the live animal (or share) before slaughter. The processor then butchers YOUR animal as a service, not a sale. Meat is stamped 'NOT FOR SALE' - only for your household. It's completely safe and standard for bulk beef. This pathway allows use of smaller local butchers instead of overcrowded USDA facilities.
Everything you need to know
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