Farm
Amana Farms Beef
Homestead
★5.0(5)Local beef supplier in Homestead, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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View DetailsBuy Half a Cow in Iowa
Quick Answer
Half a cow in Iowa costs $1,800-2,400 ($8.00-10.50/lb per pound take-home). There are 38 local suppliers to choose from. Best time to buy: September-November. Most beef is grain-finished.
Iowa maintains approximately 3.8 million cattle and is the corn-fed beef capital of America. The state's abundant corn and soybean production makes it ideal for grain-finishing, producing consistently marbled beef. Iowa also has a significant beef-on-dairy sector where Holstein steers enter the beef supply chain.
38 Suppliers
$3.75-5.50/lb Hanging Weight
September-November Best Season
38 Farm Pickup
1 Local Delivery
Buying Bulk Beef in Iowa: Expert Guide
Pricing
Half cow: $1,800-2,400
Hanging weight: $3.75-5.50/lb
Take-home: $8.00-10.50/lb
Best Time to Buy
Peak season: September-November
Fall harvest (September-November) is optimal when cattle have finished on local grain and achieved peak marbling. Iowa's deer season (November-December) creates processing bottlenecks. Book 4-8 months in advance. Year-round availability from grain-finished operations.
Common Breeds
Black Angus, Hereford, Charolais, Simmental, Holstein crosses
Typical practice: Grain-finished
Local Tip
The beef-on-dairy market is your value play in Iowa. Holstein-cross steers from the state's dairy operations often grade Choice or Prime with superior marbling, yet trade at a 15-25% discount to purebred beef breeds. Farms in dairy-heavy regions offer this economical option.
Top Production Regions
Western Iowa Feedlot RegionEastern IowaCentral Iowa (Des Moines Corridor)Northern IowaSouthern Iowa
Browse by City
38 Suppliers in Iowa
Farm
Bigelow Family Farm
Winterset
★5.0(5)Local beef supplier in Winterset, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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Brewer Family Farms
Dallas Center
★5.0(3)Local beef supplier in Dallas Center, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Natural
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Ebersole Cattle Co
Kellerton
★5.0(5)Local beef supplier in Kellerton, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Natural
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Evans Family Farm
Marion
★5.0(37)Local beef supplier in Marion, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Natural
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Five Oaks Farm Wagyu Griswold, Iowa
Griswold
★5.0(16)Local beef supplier in Griswold, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Natural
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Fontenot Beef LLC
Iowa
★5.0(4)Local beef supplier in Iowa, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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Grand View Beef
Clarion
★5.0(21)Local beef supplier in Clarion, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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Iowa Farm Fresh Meats
West Branch
★5.0(46)Local beef supplier in West Branch, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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JimRay Farms
Kalona
★5.0(4)Local beef supplier in Kalona, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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Kollasch Family Farm
Whittemore
★5.0(16)Local beef supplier in Whittemore, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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Long Shot Farms LLC
Indianola
★5.0(10)Local beef supplier in Indianola, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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Maxwell Custom Beef
Des Moines
★5.0(19)Local beef supplier in Des Moines, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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RC Farm
Clearfield
★5.0(7)Local beef supplier in Clearfield, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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Roehrkasse Meat Co
Williamsburg
★5.0(32)Local beef supplier in Williamsburg, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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Shivers Farms
Bondurant
★5.0(13)Local beef supplier in Bondurant, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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The Good Butcher
Des Moines
★5.0(50)Local beef supplier in Des Moines, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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Timm Family Cattle LLC
Monticello
★5.0(16)Local beef supplier in Monticello, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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Vintage Beef
Charter Oak
★5.0(4)Local beef supplier in Charter Oak, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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West Fork Farmstead
West Chester
★5.0(12)Local beef supplier in West Chester, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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Cremer's Meats
Dubuque
★4.9(134)Local beef supplier in Dubuque, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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Farm Sweet Farm at Rosmann Family Farms
Harlan
★4.9(13)Local beef supplier in Harlan, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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Iowa Beef Industry Council
Ames
★4.9(8)Local beef supplier in Ames, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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Thoma’s Meat Market
Iowa City
★4.9(105)Local beef supplier in Iowa City, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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Beringer Family Farms Beef
Cascade
★4.8(35)Local beef supplier in Cascade, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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Berkwood Farms
Des Moines
★4.8(75)Local beef supplier in Des Moines, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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Iowa Meat Farms
San Diego
★4.8(542)Local beef supplier in San Diego, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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Midwest Best Beef
Des Moines
★4.8(15)Buy in bulk and enjoy savings with 1/4 or 1/2 beef. Custom processed to your liking. Quality Midwest cattle.
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Northcote Meats Inc.
Melcher-Dallas
★4.8(56)Local beef supplier in Melcher-Dallas, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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Old Station Craft Meats
Waukee
★4.8(124)Local beef supplier in Waukee, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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Prairie Natural Meats & Seafood
West Des Moines
★4.8(37)Local beef supplier in West Des Moines, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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Wanders Farms LLC
Otley
★4.8(26)Local beef supplier in Otley, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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Amana Meat Shop & Smokehouse
Amana
★4.7(360)Local beef supplier in Amana, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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Bud's Custom Meats, Inc.
Riverside
★4.7(217)Local beef supplier in Riverside, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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Rustic Cuts Butcher Shop
Council Bluffs
★4.7(379)Local beef supplier in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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Diamond P Ranch
Blue Grass
★4.6(12)Local beef supplier in Blue Grass, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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Upper Iowa Beef
Lime Springs
★4.2(38)Local beef supplier in Lime Springs, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Natural
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R Grassfed Beef
Hampton
Local beef supplier in Hampton, Iowa. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Natural
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Bulk Beef in Nearby States
Explore suppliers in neighboring states - many offer delivery or are worth the drive.
Frequently Asked Questions: Buying Beef in Iowa
01
What does half a cow cost in Iowa?
A half cow in Iowa costs $1,800-2,400 total - often below national averages due to abundant local corn keeping feed costs competitive. Expect $3.75-5.50/lb hanging weight for grain-finished beef. Add $60 kill share and $0.95/lb processing. Take-home yield is about 210-240 lbs, making effective cost $8-10.50/lb.
02
Why is Iowa beef so competitively priced?
Iowa is corn country - the state produces massive amounts of corn, silage, and ethanol byproducts (distillers grains) that keep cattle feed costs lower than almost anywhere else. This translates directly to lower beef prices. Iowa grain-finished beef often rivals USDA Prime at commodity prices.
03
What is beef-on-dairy and should I buy it in Iowa?
Beef-on-dairy refers to Holstein steers (from dairy operations) finished for beef. These animals marble exceptionally well due to dairy genetics and often grade Choice or Prime. They trade at 15-25% discounts to purebred Angus because of the 'dairy' stigma. For value-conscious Iowa buyers, it's an excellent choice.
04
Is grass-fed beef available in Iowa?
Yes, but it's a niche market. Iowa's agricultural dominance is in corn, so most beef is grain-finished. Grass-fed operations exist but command premium prices ($5.50-6.50/lb HW vs $3.75-4.50/lb for grain-finished). If you specifically want grass-fed, you'll need to seek out specialty producers.
Buying Guides & Tools
First-Time Buyer's Guide
Everything you need to know
Beef Cuts Guide
What cuts you'll actually get
Cut Sheet Guide
How to customize your order
Half vs Quarter Cow
Compare share sizes and costs
Grass-Fed vs Grain-Finished
Understand the real differences
Freezer Space Guide
How much space you'll need
Bulk Beef vs Grocery
See the real cost comparison
Price Calculator
Estimate your total cost