Quick Answer
Half a cow in South Carolina costs $2,200-3,200 ($10.00-15.00/lb per pound take-home). There are 3 local suppliers to choose from. Best time to buy: May-June or November-December. Both grass-fed and grain-finished options available.
South Carolina's cattle industry generates $133 million in annual economic impact, with a growing direct-to-consumer sector transforming the traditional cow-calf export model. The state's diverse geography—from the cool Upstate to the humid Lowcountry—creates distinct production zones and flavor profiles.
Half cow: $2,200-3,200
Hanging weight: $6.00-9.75/lb
Take-home: $10.00-15.00/lb
Peak season: May-June or November-December
South Carolina has two optimal harvest windows: late spring (May-June) during the 'spring flush' when cattle finish on lush cool-season forage, and late fall (November-December) after the 'fall flush.' Avoid August-September when the 'summer slump' from heat stress and lignified grasses can reduce meat quality. Book processing 3-6 months ahead.
Black Angus, Brangus, Brahman crosses, Hereford, Charolais
Typical practice: Mixed (pasture-raised, grain-finished)
The 'summer slump' is real—SC heat and humidity stress cattle July-September. Ask producers about their summer management: do they harvest before peak heat, use summer annuals for quality grazing, or move to grain supplementation? This separates knowledgeable producers from average ones. Yellow fat indicates beta-carotene from green forage—a quality marker.
Anderson
★4.9(15)Anderson, South Carolina family farm raising Trask Polled Hereford since 1950. 100% grass-fed, grass-finished. No grain, antibiotics, or hormones ever.
Piedmont
★4.9(192)Piedmont, South Carolina 100% grass-fed beef. Regenerative practices with mob grazing. Non-GMO, no confinement, no feedlots.
Newberry
Newberry, South Carolina regenerative family farm. Ethically sourced, dry-aged, grass-fed beef. Cows graze on pasture, never see a feedlot.
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Explore suppliers in neighboring states - many offer delivery or are worth the drive.
A half cow in SC costs $2,200-3,200 total depending on region. Upstate pricing (Boggs, Cloverleaf) runs $7.00-7.25/lb all-inclusive (~$1,500-1,700 for a half). Lowcountry premium operations (Lowcountry Family Farms) reach $9.50/lb. Your take-home yield is about 200-225 lbs (65% of hanging weight), making effective cost $10-15/lb.
July-September is SC's 'summer slump'—intense heat and humidity stress cattle while grasses become lignified (fibrous and less nutritious). Cattle may lose condition, producing leaner, potentially tougher beef. Target late spring (May-June) or late fall (November-December) harvest windows. Ask producers about their summer management strategy.
Absolutely. South Carolina's SCMPID operates under standards 'at least equal to' USDA federal inspection. State inspectors follow identical HACCP protocols with carcass-by-carcass examination. The only difference is commerce: SCMPID meat cannot cross state lines for sale. For home consumption in SC, state-inspected meat is perfectly safe and supports the local tax base.
The Lowcountry presents challenging production conditions: extreme heat and humidity stress cattle, parasites thrive, and land costs are high near Charleston. Producers use heat-tolerant genetics (Brahman influence) and intensive management. Charleston's culinary demand drives premium pricing. Upstate producers offer better value; Lowcountry offers convenience and prestige.
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