3 local suppliers selling bulk beef in the San Antonio area — including 2 grass-fed 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.
San Antonio
★5.0(6)San Antonio and Hill Country ranch selling by the pack or bulk. Operates on an appointment-only basis for ranch visits.
San Antonio
Leader in regenerative agriculture near San Antonio. Produces chemical-free beef on pastures with whole and half beef options.
San Antonio
Delivers 100% grass-fed beef to Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. Highly rated for customer service and strict grass-fed protocols.
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.