How Much Is a Whole Cow? A Straight Answer From an Iowa Farm
Here is the real number: a whole cow from Mundorf Heritage Beef is $4,697 for about 400 pounds of custom-cut, dry-aged beef from a single animal, plus a complete array of organ meats, roughly $11.74 a pound. It is our best value. I am Jeff Mundorf, fifth generation raising cattle on our family's Iowa ground near Red Oak since 1873.
What a whole cow costs, and what you get
A whole beef share is $4,697 total, reserved with a $1,200 deposit that applies to the price. That is roughly 400 pounds of finished, take-home beef from one animal you can trace, plus organ meats, all custom cut to your kitchen. Every pound is pasture raised, grass fed and grain finished Angus, dry-aged up to 21 days. At about $11.74 a pound it is the lowest per-pound price we offer.
Food security in your freezer
A whole cow is a year or more of beef, every pound from a single animal raised on our ground. Many families split a whole with relatives or friends and each walk away with a half at the whole-cow price. You will want a large chest freezer, roughly 12 to 14 cubic feet, or plan to divide it.
How you get it, and how to decide
Pick up near Red Oak, Iowa, or we ship it frozen to the continental United States. We also deliver to the Omaha and Council Bluffs area. If a whole is more than you need, compare the half cow, or read whether buying a quarter cow is worth it to see how the math scales.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a whole cow cost?
A whole cow is $4,697 for about 400 pounds of custom-cut, dry-aged beef plus organ meats, roughly $11.74 a pound, reserved with a $1,200 deposit that applies to the total.
How much meat is in a whole cow?
About 400 pounds of take-home beef from one animal, plus a complete array of organ meats. Exact weight varies by animal and cut choices.
How much freezer space does a whole cow need?
Roughly 12 to 14 cubic feet, a large chest freezer, or split it with family.
Can I split a whole cow?
Yes. Many families split a whole and each take a half at the lower whole-cow price per pound.
Keep reading
About the author. Jeff Mundorf is the fifth generation raising cattle on his family's seventh-generation Iowa farm near Red Oak, founded in 1873. He studied Meat Science and Animal Science at Colorado State University.