3 local suppliers selling bulk beef in the Saint Paul area. Prices in Minnesota typically range $7.50-10.00/lb per pound.
The 'Fall Run' (late September through November) is optimal when cattle come off summer pasture in peak condition. However, Minnesota's firearm deer seasons (early-mid November) create severe processing bottlenecks. For grass-finished beef, late fall is essential—animals on lush summer pasture have the best marbling.
Saint Paul
★4.9(310)Local beef supplier in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Saint Paul
★4.8(175)Local beef supplier in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Saint Paul
★4.8(207)Local beef supplier in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Contact them directly for current availability and pricing on bulk beef purchases.
Holstein beef is the 'moneyball' strategy for Minnesota buyers—often 30-40% cheaper than Angus while delivering Prime-grade marbling. For Twin Cities residents, farms along the I-94 corridor (like StoneBridge Beef) offer delivery routes, and buying clubs like TC Farm aggregate orders to neighborhood drop sites at Seward Co-op or The Good Acre.
A standard grain-finished half cow runs $2,000-2,500 total in Minnesota. At $4.10/lb hanging weight (typical rate), a 403 lb half costs about $1,650 to the farmer, plus $50 slaughter fee and $0.85/lb processing (~$340). Take-home yield is approximately 260 lbs, making your effective cost $7.50-8.00/lb for all cuts.
Minnesota has more dairy cows than beef cows, meaning Holstein steers make up a significant portion of local bulk beef. Holstein beef marbles exceptionally well (often grading Prime) but has a lower dressing percentage due to heavier bone structure. This creates a unique value opportunity—Holstein quarters often trade at 30-40% less than Angus, providing Prime-grade eating at discount prices.
Minnesota's firearm deer seasons (November 8-23 and November 22-30 in 2025) overwhelm custom processors. Many lockers suspend beef operations entirely during these weeks to handle thousands of deer. Schedule your beef harvest for late October or wait until December.
Chest freezers generally work in cold garages, but extreme cold (below 0°F) can cause problems. When ambient temperature drops below the freezer's thermostat setting, the compressor stops running and the freezer section can actually warm up. 'Garage Ready' freezers have heaters to prevent this. During Polar Vortex conditions, some Minnesotans simply unplug the freezer and let nature do the work.