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Buy Half a Cow in Ohio

Quick Answer

Half a cow in Ohio costs $2,200-2,800 ($9.50-11.50/lb per pound take-home). There are 36 local suppliers to choose from. Best time to buy: October-December. Most beef is grain-finished.

Ohio ranks 12th nationally in beef farms with over 17,000 operations, making it a major eastern beef producer. The state has a unique 'dual-herd' nature with both beef and dairy sectors, producing approximately 1.7 million pounds of beef annually. Most Ohio bulk beef comes from family-operated farms rather than large industrial feedlots.

36 Suppliers
$4.50-5.50/lb Hanging Weight
October-December Best Season
36 Farm Pickup
7 Local Delivery

Buying Bulk Beef in Ohio: Expert Guide

Pricing

Half cow: $2,200-2,800

Hanging weight: $4.50-5.50/lb

Take-home: $9.50-11.50/lb

Best Time to Buy

Peak season: October-December

Fall harvest is peak availability as producers process cattle before winter. For grass-fed beef, late summer to early fall is optimal when animals have spent months on green pasture. Book processing 6-8 months in advance as Ohio processors often have long wait times.

Common Breeds

Black Angus, Hereford, Charolais, Simmental

Typical practice: Grain-finished

Local Tip

In Wayne and Holmes counties, Amish farming communities produce excellent freezer beef. Navigating local farm stands can yield great value, but verify whether you're buying beef or dairy breeds - Holstein beef is common in dairy country and has different characteristics.

Top Production Regions

Holmes CountyWayne CountyMuskingum CountyDarke CountyHighland County

Browse by City

36 Suppliers in Ohio

Farm

Baltzly Cattle Co.

Paris

โ˜…5.0(3)

100% grass-fed Angus beef with bulk shares available in Stark County.

๐Ÿ„
Grass-FedGrass-Finished
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow
Farm Pickup
View Details
Farm

Burbick Farms

Columbiana

โ˜…5.0(23)

Columbiana, Ohio family farm making buying beef in bulk simple. High-quality beef raised without steroids on their family farm.

๐Ÿ„
Natural
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow
Farm Pickup
View Details
Farm

Canal Junction Farm

Defiance

โ˜…5.0(48)

Grass-fed beef and raw milk cheese in Defiance.

๐Ÿ„
Grass-FedPasture-Raised
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow
Farm Pickup
View Details
Farm

Carroll Creek Farms

Waynesville

โ˜…5.0(145)

Features a 'Meat Retreat' store in Waynesville with CSA and bulk shares available.

๐Ÿ„๐Ÿ–๐Ÿ”
Pasture-RaisedNaturalDelivery
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow +2 more
Farm PickupLocal Delivery
View Details
Farm

Circle L Ranch

Burbank

โ˜…5.0(3)

Large vertically integrated operation in Burbank supplying the Galaxy restaurant and selling sides direct.

๐Ÿ„
NaturalPasture-Raised
1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow
Farm Pickup
View Details
Farm

FH Farms

Granville

โ˜…5.0(8)

Granville, Ohio grass-fed beef. Half cow packages vacuum-packed and labeled, requiring 6-8 cubic feet freezer space.

๐Ÿ„
Grass-Fed
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow
Farm Pickup
View Details
Farm

Green Vista Farm

Wooster

โ˜…5.0(5)

Wooster, Ohio farm with dry-aged beef for 2 weeks. Basic processing at 78 cents/lb includes custom cutting, vacuum packing, and flash freezing.

๐Ÿ„
Pasture-Raised
1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow
Farm Pickup
View Details
Farm

Greenacres Foundation

Cincinnati

โ˜…5.0(21)

Research farm in Cincinnati selling grass-fed beef.

๐Ÿ„
Grass-FedGrass-Finished
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow
Farm Pickup
View Details
Farm

Twin Oak Farms

Perrysville

โ˜…5.0(16)

USDA Prime and Choice direct freezer beef sales in Perrysville.

๐Ÿ„
Grain-FinishedNatural
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow
Farm Pickup
View Details
Butcher

Bluescreek Farm Meats

Plain City

โ˜…4.9(213)

Full-service butcher shop and market in Plain City with local sourcing. Known for scheduling 6-8 months in advance.

๐Ÿ„๐Ÿ–
Pasture-RaisedNatural
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow +1 more
Farm Pickup
View Details
Co-op

Buckeye Valley Beef Cooperative

Columbus

โ˜…4.9(57)

Ohio beef cooperative offering quarter, half, or whole beef shares. Custom processing with your order cut to your specifications.

๐Ÿ„
Pasture-RaisedDelivery
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow
Farm PickupLocal Delivery
View Details
Butcher

Duma Meats

Mogadore

โ˜…4.9(2664)

Major processor and retail market in Mogadore selling sides and quarters directly.

๐Ÿ„๐Ÿ–
Natural
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow +1 more
Farm Pickup
View Details
Farm

Heritage Hill Beef

Kinsman

โ˜…4.9(10)

Pasture-raised Red Angus beef in Kinsman.

๐Ÿ„
Pasture-RaisedNatural
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow
Farm Pickup
View Details
Farm

Sweet Grass Dairy

Fredericktown

โ˜…4.9(149)

Grass-fed beef with drop-off locations in Columbus from Fredericktown.

๐Ÿ„
Grass-FedPasture-RaisedDelivery
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow
Farm PickupLocal Delivery
View Details
Farm

Tierra Verde Farms

Deerfield

โ˜…4.9(44)

Focus on regenerative agriculture and multi-species grazing in Deerfield.

๐Ÿ„๐Ÿ–๐Ÿ‘
Grass-FedPasture-RaisedDelivery
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow +1 more
Farm PickupLocal Delivery
View Details
Farm

Brunty Farms

Akron

โ˜…4.8(20)

Pasture-raised meats operating a CSA model in the Akron area.

๐Ÿ„๐Ÿ–๐Ÿ”
Pasture-RaisedNaturalDelivery
Subscription ยท Bulk Box
Farm PickupLocal Delivery
View Details
Butcher

Heffelfinger's Meats

Jeromesville

โ˜…4.8(106)

Largest meat processing facility in Ohio with extensive capacity.

๐Ÿ„๐Ÿ–
Natural
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow
Farm Pickup
View Details
Farm

Lewis Family Farms

Mount Vernon

โ˜…4.8(3834)

Ohio grass-fed beef from a multi-generational family farm. Committed to sustainable farming practices and quality beef.

๐Ÿ„
Grass-FedPasture-RaisedDelivery
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow
Farm PickupLocal Delivery
View Details
Butcher

Sugar Valley Meats

Sugarcreek

โ˜…4.8(255)

Prominent Amish country processor and retail destination in Sugarcreek.

๐Ÿ„๐Ÿ–
Natural
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow +1 more
Farm Pickup
View Details
Butcher

Canaan Meats

Wooster

โ˜…4.7(175)

High-volume custom processor in Wooster serving many local farms.

๐Ÿ„๐Ÿ–
Natural
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow
Farm Pickup
View Details
Butcher

Lehr's Prime Market

Columbus

โ˜…4.7(457)

Farm-to-retail model with high transparency serving Columbus area.

๐Ÿ„๐Ÿ–
Pasture-RaisedNatural
Bulk Box
Farm Pickup
View Details
Butcher

North Market Butchery

Columbus

โ˜…4.7(9713)

Urban butcher in Columbus sourcing exclusively local Ohio beef.

๐Ÿ„๐Ÿ–
Pasture-RaisedNatural
Bulk Box
Farm Pickup
View Details
Butcher

Stehlin's Meat Market

Cincinnati

โ˜…4.7(269)

Historic slaughterhouse and butcher shop in Cincinnati.

๐Ÿ„๐Ÿ–
Natural
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow +1 more
Farm Pickup
View Details
Butcher

Winesburg Meats

Winesburg

โ˜…4.7(199)

Famous regional landmark for processing and retail in Amish country.

๐Ÿ„๐Ÿ–
Natural
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow +1 more
Farm Pickup
View Details
Butcher

House of Meats

Toledo

โ˜…4.6(1156)

Retail chain in the Toledo area offering bulk bundles.

๐Ÿ„๐Ÿ–
Natural
Bulk Box
Farm Pickup
View Details
Butcher

Tank's Meats

Elmore

โ˜…4.6(115)

Historic family-owned slaughterhouse since 1907 offering wholesale and retail in Elmore.

๐Ÿ„๐Ÿ–
Natural
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow +1 more
Farm Pickup
View Details
Farm

AR Family Farm

Granville

โ˜…4.4(12)

Ohio raised beef with quarter cow at $5.50/lb hanging weight. Standard processing includes vacuum packing, steaks, roasts, and ground beef.

๐Ÿ„
$
Pasture-Raised
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow
Farm Pickup
View Details
Butcher

Frobose Meat Locker

Pemberville

โ˜…4.4(298)

Custom processing and retail in Pemberville.

๐Ÿ„๐Ÿ–
Natural
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow
Farm Pickup
View Details
Butcher

Miller's Custom Meats

Millersburg

โ˜…4.3(41)

Custom processing and retail sales in Millersburg, heart of Amish country.

๐Ÿ„๐Ÿ–
Natural
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow
Farm Pickup
View Details
Farm

Red Hill Farm

Ohio

โ˜…3.5(2)

Beef processing and sales operation in Ohio.

๐Ÿ„
Pasture-RaisedNatural
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow
Farm Pickup
View Details
Farm

Direct farm sales in Lebanon.

๐Ÿ„
Pasture-RaisedNatural
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow
Farm Pickup
View Details
Farm

Miller Livestock

Trumbull County

Grass-fed beef with delivery services to Cleveland markets.

๐Ÿ„
Grass-FedPasture-RaisedDelivery
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow
Farm PickupLocal Delivery
View Details
Farm

Grass-fed farm fresh beef in the Athens area with direct marketing.

๐Ÿ„
Grass-FedPasture-Raised
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow
Farm Pickup
View Details
Farm

SunWake Farm

Hamilton

Pasture-raised beef direct to consumer in Hamilton.

๐Ÿ„
Pasture-RaisedNatural
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow
Farm Pickup
View Details
Farm

Direct beef sales with detailed buying information.

๐Ÿ„
Pasture-RaisedNatural
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow
Farm Pickup
View Details
Farm

Family-owned Hillsboro, Ohio farm producing 100% grass-fed beef. Animals raised on grass, sunshine, and clean water with no antibiotics, hormones, or pesticides.

๐Ÿ„
Grass-FedGrass-Finished
1/4 Cow ยท 1/2 Cow ยท Whole Cow
Farm Pickup
View Details

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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 Ohio

01

What's the average cost of half a cow in Ohio?

A half cow in Ohio typically costs $2,200-2,800 total, including processing. This breaks down to $4.50-5.50/lb hanging weight for the meat, plus $75 slaughter fee and $0.95-1.25/lb processing. Your take-home yield is about 60% of hanging weight, making the effective cost $9.50-11.50/lb for premium cuts including ribeyes and filet mignon.

02

When is the best time to buy bulk beef in Ohio?

October through December is peak season when supply is highest. Producers aim to process cattle before winter to avoid expensive stored hay feeding. For the highest quality grass-fed beef, target late summer harvest (August-September) when cattle have maximized their time on green pasture.

03

What's the difference between a front quarter and hind quarter?

A front quarter contains chuck and rib cuts (fattier, more roasts), while a hind quarter has loin and round (leaner, more steaks). In Ohio, most sellers offer 'split sides' or 'mixed quarters' that give you a fair mix of both. Always clarify this before purchasing to avoid getting only one type.

04

Do I need a special freezer for half a cow in Ohio?

Yes, a half cow needs 8-10 cubic feet of freezer space. In Ohio's variable climate, a chest freezer is recommended over an upright - it maintains temperature better during power outages and is more energy efficient. Count on receiving 200-250 lbs of packaged meat from a half cow.

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