On average, most Oklahoma producers (ie: farmers/ ranchers) we have talked to charge $3.75/pound on the rail, or hanging weight for their beef shares. (Prices for live beef are subject to change based on current market, and feed prices and can vary from producer to producer.) You pay the producer for your live beef share.
The processing fees are a separate expense and are paid to us, the processor, directly.
THE MATH
Using a 1000 lb. live weight beef as an example, with a 600 lb. hanging weight, you can do the math and get an estimate of what a finished beef might cost.
You can call and get your actual hanging weights from us once your beef has been processed. Note, some producers sell based on live weight. We are not able to provide live weights, so you will have to get that information from the producer directly.
Below you will see an example breakdown of the cost of beef shares. This is not a guaranteed cost as each beef will weigh differently, and producers could charge differently. In addition, the processing cost is a current (as of Oct. 2022) price which is subject to change. Please check with your producer to get correct numbers to calculate your total cost.
WHOLE BEEF
(Weighing 1,000 pounds on the hoof.)
Average hanging weight is about 600 pounds
$3.75 x 600 = $2,250.00
(Approximate amount paid to producer)
Processing cost
(Current is .90/pound plus disposal fee which is $70.)
600 x .90 = $540.00 + $70 = $610.00
(Amount paid to processing plant.)
Total = $2860.00
$2860.00/ 330 lbs average boxed weight = $8.66 per pound across the board when purchasing a whole beef.
1/2 BEEF
(Weighing 1,000 pounds on the hoof.)
Average hanging weight is 300 pounds
$3.75 x 300 = $1125
(Approximate amount paid to producer.)
Processing cost
(Current is .90/pound plus disposal fee which is $35)
300 x .90 = $270 + $35 = $305
(Amount paid to processing plant.)
Total = $1430
$1430/ 165 lbs average boxed weight = $8.66 per pound across the board when purchasing 1/2 a beef.
1/4 BEEF
(Weighing 1,000 pounds on the hoof.)
Average hanging weight is 150 pounds
$3.75 x 150 = $562.5 (Approximate amount paid to producer.)
Processing cost
(Current is .90/pound plus disposal fee which is $17.50)
150 x .90 = $135 + $17.50 = $152.50
(Approximate amount paid to processing plant.)
Total = $715
$677.50/85 = $8.41 per pound across the board when purchasing 1/4 a beef.
CUSTOM OPTIONS
There are options you can choose in addition to the basic processing. You may choose to get hamburger patties made, get your steaks packaged individually, or have some of your ground beef put into brats. These custom options are billed in addition to the processing and kill fee. Click here for our latest pricing sheet. (As of Oct. 2022)
WORTH IT
Keep in mind, at these prices you are receiving premium cuts of meat (t-bones, ribeyes, sirloin, round steak, rump roasts) and when you average it out, as you can see, the per-pound cost is around the price of top quality ground beef that you may purchase at your local grocer. That means you are eating Oklahoma’s favorite steak, the Ribeye, for half the price or less than what you would pay in the grocery store.
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