4 local suppliers selling bulk beef in the Austin area — including 1 grass-fed, 1 grain-finished options. Prices in Texas typically range $10.00-13.00/lb per pound.
Fall (October-December) is the traditional harvest window when cattle are fat from summer grazing. For grass-fed, the spring flush (April-June) also produces excellent quality as cattle graze ryegrass and clover. Winter (January-March) often has lowest availability - cattle may be leaner without supplementation.
Austin
★4.9(589)Premium Corriente beef, hormone-free, grass-fed and grain-finished. USDA Prime and Choice graded. Half beef around 158 lbs take-home weight.
Austin
★4.8(42)Focuses on regenerative agriculture and soil health, producing 100% all-natural beef with Texas meat delivery.
Austin
Premium meat delivery service serving Austin, Houston, and San Antonio. Specializes in Wagyu and premium cuts from South Texas ranches.
Austin
Aggregates from family-run ranches near Austin and San Antonio. Offers smaller bundles (1/8, 1/4) for those with limited freezer space.
Request a 'Full Packer Cut' brisket (whole, fat cap on, point and flat connected) - essential for Texas-style smoking. Standard cut sheets often split or grind the brisket. Also request 80/20 ground beef ratio for proper burgers, and don't forget the oxtail.
Expect $2,500-3,500 total for a half cow in Texas. At $6.50/lb hanging weight (typical grain-finished rate), a 375 lb half runs about $2,440 to the rancher, plus $60-65 slaughter fee and $1.25/lb processing ($470). Your take-home yield is 240-250 lbs, making the effective cost $10-13/lb for everything from ground beef to ribeyes.
American composite breeds excel in Texas heat. Brangus (3/8 Brahman, 5/8 Angus) delivers excellent marbling with heat tolerance. Beefmaster and Santa Gertrudis are also outstanding. Pure Angus is common in North Texas and produces superior marbling but requires more management in the heat. Texas Longhorn is very lean - great for health-conscious buyers but yields less meat.
Custom Exempt is the standard for half/quarter purchases. You buy the live animal before slaughter, then pay the butcher for processing. The meat is stamped 'NOT FOR SALE' and is only legal for your household. USDA-inspected beef can be sold by the cut but costs more. Both are safe - the difference is legal, not quality.
Texas heat can spoil meat fast. Use high-quality roto-molded coolers (Yeti, RTIC), not cheap styrofoam. Transport in the air-conditioned cab, never a hot truck bed. The butcher freezes meat to -10°F - pack it tight with no air gaps. A 2-hour drive in a 130°F truck bed can start thawing the outer layers.