Quick Answer
Half a cow in Nebraska costs $2,000-2,800 ($8.72-11.91/lb per pound take-home). There are 4 local suppliers to choose from. Best time to buy: May-June or September-November. Most beef is grain-finished.
Nebraska is a beef titan—ranking 2nd nationally in cattle inventory with 6.5 million head and 1st in commercial cattle slaughter. The state processes 20% of the nation's beef. Despite industrial scale, a robust direct-to-consumer sector offers access to the same genetics and finishing programs used by the best steakhouses, often at family-farm prices.
Half cow: $2,000-2,800
Hanging weight: $4.75-5.50/lb
Take-home: $8.72-11.91/lb
Peak season: May-June or September-November
Peak availability comes in two windows: late spring (May-June) when cattle finish on lush pasture, and fall (September-November) before winter feeding begins. The Sandhills region has distinct timing—cattle come off summer range in October. Processing capacity is excellent year-round. Book 2-4 months ahead for preferred dates.
Black Angus, Red Angus, Hereford, Simmental, Charolais
Typical practice: Grain-finished
Nebraska beef quality rivals the best steakhouses because the genetics and finishing programs are identical—the difference is buying direct cuts out the supply chain. The Sandhills is a unique ecosystem of grass-covered sand dunes supporting cattle ranching; grass-fed beef from this region has distinctive terroir. Ask about the ranch's location and finishing program.
Spencer
★5.0(5)Black Angus cattle raised along the Niobrara River in Northeast Nebraska. Quarter, half, or whole options plus individual packages shipped to all 50 states.
Neligh
★5.0(3)Northeast Nebraska dry-aged beef. 100% Nebraska bred, born, raised and processed. Free from antibiotics, growth hormones, and vaccines.
Elk Creek
★5.0(8)Southeastern Nebraska 100% grass-fed, grass-finished Angus beef. Hormone and antibiotic free, never given grain, free to roam.
Waverly
★4.6(29)Fifth generation Nebraska family farm shipping beef directly to your doorstep. Dry-aged beef with traditional family farming practices.
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Explore suppliers in neighboring states - many offer delivery or are worth the drive.
A half cow in Nebraska costs $2,000-2,800 total. At $5.00/lb hanging weight (375 lbs), expect ~$1,875 for meat, plus $50 kill fee (half share) and $0.95/lb processing (~$356), totaling ~$2,280. Nebraska's competitive pricing reflects the cattle-rich landscape. Your take-home yield is about 220-245 lbs, making effective cost $8.72-11.91/lb.
Often, yes. Nebraska's direct-sale producers access the same genetics (often registered Angus or Hereford), finishing programs (corn-based), and processing standards used by major packers supplying steakhouses. The difference is you're buying from the family that raised it rather than through a supply chain. Specify grain-finished for steakhouse-style marbling.
The Sandhills is a unique ecosystem—20,000 square miles of grass-covered sand dunes over the Ogallala Aquifer. Cattle graze native grasses in one of North America's largest intact grassland ecosystems. Grass-finished Sandhills beef has a distinctive flavor profile reflecting this terroir. It's leaner than corn-finished beef but prized for its 'place-based' character.
Nebraska processes 20% of the nation's beef—the infrastructure exists to handle massive volumes. This scales down to custom processing as well. Small-town butchers have served farm families for generations. Wait times are typically shorter than eastern states. The challenge isn't capacity—it's finding the right producer and building a relationship.
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