Quick Answer
Half a cow in Massachusetts costs $2,500-3,500 ($11.00-15.00/lb per pound take-home). There are 44 local suppliers to choose from. Best time to buy: October-December. Both grass-fed and grain-finished options available.
Massachusetts has approximately 5,500 beef cows, ranking near the bottom nationally, but commands a premium marketplace driven by affluent Boston-area demand. The industry is characterized by small, diversified farms in the central and western counties, with a strong emphasis on heritage breeds and high production standards.
Half cow: $2,500-3,500
Hanging weight: $4.25-8.45/lb
Take-home: $11.00-15.00/lb
Peak season: October-December
Fall harvest (October-December) is optimal when cattle come off summer pasture in peak condition. Reserve shares in April-June for fall delivery. Massachusetts has severe processing bottlenecks - book slaughter dates 6-12 months in advance. Spring/summer beef is available but may be leaner.
Red Devon, Belted Galloway, Black Angus, Hereford
Typical practice: Mixed (pasture-raised, grain-finished)
Consider heritage breeds like Red Devon or Belted Galloway - they're genetically adapted to New England's climate and can finish beautifully on grass alone. If the $3,000+ upfront cost is prohibitive, look into meat CSAs from farms like Chestnut Farms that offer monthly pickup shares ($100-300/month).
Boston
★4.3(2733)Subscription meat delivery with 100+ products. All meat is free from antibiotics and added hormones. B-Corp certified with third-party animal welfare certifications.
Greenfield
★5.0(8)Local beef supplier in Greenfield, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Uxbridge
★5.0(48)Local beef supplier in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Dartmouth
★5.0(27)Local beef supplier in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Granby
★5.0(6)Local beef supplier in Granby, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Rehoboth
★5.0(9)Local beef supplier in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Oxford
★5.0(7)Local beef supplier in Oxford, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Dudley
★5.0(56)Local beef supplier in Dudley, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Oxford
★5.0(22)Local beef supplier in Oxford, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Warwick
★4.9(30)Local beef supplier in Warwick, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Hardwick
★4.9(46)Local beef supplier in Hardwick, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
New Braintree
★4.9(197)Local beef supplier in New Braintree, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Somerville
★4.9(23)Local beef supplier in Somerville, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Foxborough
★4.9(106)Local beef supplier in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Rutland
★4.9(1261)Local beef supplier in Rutland, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Marlborough
★4.9(150)Local beef supplier in Marlborough, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Boston
★4.9(43)Local beef supplier in Boston, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Berlin
★4.8(42)Local beef supplier in Berlin, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Norwood
★4.8(47)Local beef supplier in Norwood, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Easthampton
★4.8(149)Local beef supplier in Easthampton, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Worcester
★4.8(117)Local beef supplier in Worcester, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Worcester
★4.8(124)Local beef supplier in Worcester, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Lee
★4.8(928)Local beef supplier in Lee, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Watertown
★4.8(172)Local beef supplier in Watertown, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Littleton
★4.8(192)Local beef supplier in Littleton, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Danvers
★4.8(279)Local beef supplier in Danvers, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Athol
★4.7(213)Local beef supplier in Athol, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Lowell
★4.7(442)Local beef supplier in Lowell, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Groton
★4.7(159)Local beef supplier in Groton, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Brockton
★4.7(309)Local beef supplier in Brockton, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Lincoln
★4.7(122)Local beef supplier in Lincoln, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Litchfield
★4.7(40)Local beef supplier in Litchfield, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Haverhill
★4.7(112)Local beef supplier in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Foxborough
★4.7(200)Local beef supplier in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Boston
★4.7(86)Local beef supplier in Boston, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
New Braintree
★4.7(23)Local beef supplier in New Braintree, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Sutton
★4.7(359)Local beef supplier in Sutton, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Lancaster
★4.6(185)Local beef supplier in Lancaster, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Great Barrington
★4.6(14)Local beef supplier in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Newbury
★4.6(649)Local beef supplier in Newbury, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Springfield
★4.5(1173)Local beef supplier in Springfield, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Cambridge
★4.5(131)Local beef supplier in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Peabody
★4.3(148)Local beef supplier in Peabody, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Hardwick
★4.2(5)Local beef supplier in Hardwick, Massachusetts. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
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Explore suppliers in neighboring states - many offer delivery or are worth the drive.
Expect $2,500-3,500 total for a half cow in Massachusetts. Premium grass-fed heritage beef runs $8.25+/lb hanging weight, while standard grain-finished Angus is $4.25-6.00/lb. Add $60 slaughter fee (half share) and $1.15-1.30/lb processing. Your effective take-home cost is $11-15/lb - expensive for ground beef, but a 40%+ savings on ribeyes and filet.
Three factors drive premiums: (1) Land values near Boston limit farm size, (2) severe processing bottlenecks from only a handful of USDA facilities, and (3) strong demand from affluent consumers willing to pay for heritage genetics and grass-fed protocols. The trade-off is exceptional quality, traceability, and animal welfare standards.
Plan 6-12 months ahead. Contact farms in April-June to reserve a fall share. Adams Farm opens their scheduling book in June for the following year. Popular farms like The Farmhouse Meats and Brass Family Farm frequently sell out - join waitlists and sign up for newsletters to catch cancellations.
The 'farm drive' to Athol or Groton takes 1-2 hours. Clear your SUV trunk or rent a van - a half cow fills 5-7 boxes. Alternatively, use delivery services: Walden Local Meat delivers shares to doorsteps across Eastern MA, or Lilac Hedge Farm offers home delivery for bulk orders, eliminating the logistics entirely.
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