Description

How Much Does a Whole Cow Cost?

Most families who purchase a whole cow from us take home around 400 lbs of finished, packaged beef.

Because every animal is different, the final price depends on the size of the animal and processing details, but buying in bulk typically results in a lower average cost per pound compared to retail beef.

What to expect:

• Your $300 deposit reserves your beef
• The deposit is applied to your final total
• Final pricing is confirmed after processing, once the exact take-home weight is known
• Processing fees are paid directly to the butcher

We’ll always confirm your final balance before delivery or pickup — no surprises.

Calculate an Estimate

1 About you

2 Your habits

3 Your purchase

4 Your estimate

Step 1 of 3

Tell us about your household

This helps us size the right cut — no sales calls, we promise.

How many people are you feeding? Choose your household size...Just me (1 person)2 people3 people4 people5 people6+ people

Please choose how many people you're feeding to continue.

Your ZIP code Used only to estimate drive distance and delivery eligibility

Who makes the final call on a purchase like this?

I do My spouse / partner We decide together

How did you first hear about Nadig Farms?

Google search Friend or family referral Social media (Facebook, Instagram) Farmers market Returning customer Other / not sure

Continue

Step 2 of 3

How does your family eat beef?

Honest answers give you a more accurate estimate.

How often does your family eat beef? Choose your beef frequency...1–2 times per week3–4 times per week5–7 times per week (daily)8–10 times per weekMore than 10 times per week

Please choose how often your family eats beef to continue.

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Where do you currently buy most of your beef?

Grocery store Butcher shop Another farm / co-op I don't buy regularly

Roughly how much do you spend on beef per month? Choose your monthly spend...Under $50$50 – $100$100 – $200$200 – $300$300 – $400$400+

Please select your monthly beef spend to continue.

What matters most to you about where your beef comes from?

Price / savings Quality & flavor Knowing the farm Convenience

Does your family follow any dietary approach?

General omnivore Keto / low carb Carnivore / paleo Mixed household

Back Continue

Step 3 of 3

About your purchase

Almost there — these last questions unlock your full estimate.

Choose your estimated take-home weight Choose your take-home weight... Light Whole Cow (385 lbs) Average Whole Cow (400 lbs) Heavy Whole Cow (415 lbs)

Please choose a take-home weight to continue.

How many families will share this beef? Choose how many families...Just my family (1)Split with 1 other family (2)Split with 2 other families (3)Split with 3 other families (4)

Please choose how many families will share this beef to continue.

How would you like to receive your beef?

Shipping Shipped directly to your home — we handle the delivery for you. Scheduled Farm / Processor Pick up your beef yourself at the farm or processor.

Please choose a delivery method to continue.

When are you looking to buy?

This month 1–3 months 3–6 months Just exploring

Have you bought bulk beef (Quarters, Halves, or Wholes) before?

Yes, from a farm Yes, from a co-op First time

Do you have freezer space ready?

Yes, I'm ready Need to get a freezer Splitting — less needed Not sure

What's your biggest concern about buying direct? (choose all that apply)

Price Finding freezer space Not sure what cuts I'd get Worried about quality Worried about price/savings Never done this before Nothing, I'm ready!

Please select at least one option to continue.

Have you gotten quotes from other farms or co-ops?

No, you're my first Yes, 1–2 others Yes, several Rather not say

Back Calculate My Estimate

Your cost per meal

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Your selected method

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For farm-direct, prime-comparable beef — does this price feel fair?

Helps us understand how we compare to what you're used to buying.

✅ Yes, fair price Worth it for this quality 🤔 A bit high More than I expected 😮 Lower than expected Better deal than I thought

Your savings insight

Weeks of beef

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All-in price per lb

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beef & processing included

Per meal

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for your household

Cost breakdown

Beef cost (take-home weight × farm price per lb) —

Processing fee (paid directly to the butcher) —

Delivery —

Your total estimated cost —

The all-in price per lb above is your total cost divided by take-home weight — this is your true cost per pound, with nothing hidden.

Your beef timeline

Today —

Ready to reserve your beef?

Fill in your info below and we'll follow up with next steps — no pressure.

Save This Estimate

We'll email you your full breakdown so you can plan and share it with family.

One email. No sales calls. No follow-up spam.

Optional — if you'd prefer we reach out by phone

Hold tight, Bill is sending your estimate!

Start over with different numbers

“This was my first time experiencing this large of a buy and everyone here made this so simple and smooth. I can’t speak higher of the folks over here at Nadig they truly will go above and beyond for you, and are more than happy to help explain anything in more detail if you have questions. I definitely look forward to working with them in the future again for sure!”
– Matt in Carpentersville, Illinois

Here’s How It Works

1

Place Your Deposit

Reserve your whole cow with a $300 deposit and secure your spot in our processing schedule.

2

We Schedule Processing

Your beef is harvested and professionally processed at a USDA-inspected facility. We handle the logistics.

3

Customize Your Cuts

Choose steak thickness, roast sizes, and packaging preferences directly with the butcher.

4

Final Weight Confirmed

Your beef is weighed, packaged, and frozen. Final pricing is based on the finished weight.

5

Delivery or Pickup

Once everything is ready, we either deliver or you pickup your order so you can stock your freezer with confidence.

Why Our $/lb Looks Higher — But Isn’t

• Most farms price beef by hanging weight — the weight before trimming, bone loss, and processing.
• We price beef by take-home weight — the finished, packaged beef that actually goes into your freezer.

Take-home weight reflects what you truly receive and what you truly pay.

Why Prices Aren’t Directly Comparable

	Hanging Weight Pricing	Take-Home Weight Pricing
Advertised Price	$8.30 / lb	—
Weight Used	Before processing	Beef you receive
Effective Take-Home Cost	~$15.09 / lb	—

Hanging Weight Pricing

• Advertised Price: $6.00 / lb
• Weight Used: Before processing
• What You Receive: Less than paid weight
• Effective Take-Home Cost: ~$10.00 / lb

Take-Home Weight Pricing (Our Farm)

• Advertised Price: $9.98 / lb
• Weight Used: Beef you receive
• What You Receive: Exactly what you pay for
• Effective Take-Home Cost: $9.98 / lb

Bottom line: Our price is based on the beef you eat — not the weight lost during processing.

Real Example from a Recent Whole Cow Order

🥩 ≈ 76 lbs Premium Steaks

🍖 ≈ 154 lbs Roasts

🍔 ≈ 171 lbs Ground Beef

Example from a recent whole-cow order. Final cuts and quantities vary based on the animal and your cut preferences.

Steaks (≈ 76 lbs)

• Ribeye Steaks 11 pkgs (~0.85–1.95 lbs)

• New York Strip Steaks 14 pkgs (~0.80–1.75 lbs)

• Top Sirloin Steaks 9 pkgs (~1.25–1.85 lbs)

• Sirloin Tip Steaks 7 pkgs (~1.20–4.30 lbs)

• Tenderloin Fillets 8 pkgs (~0.60–0.85 lbs)

• Flank Steak 2 pkgs (~1.30–1.40 lbs)

• Skirt Steak 2 pkgs (~1.35–1.40 lbs)

Roasts & Slow-Cook Cuts (≈ 154 lbs)

• Chuck Roasts 8 pkgs (~4.25–5.00 lbs)

• Round Roasts 8 pkgs (~3.60–4.40 lbs)

• Arm Roasts 4 pkgs (~4.50–4.90 lbs)

• Rump Roasts 4 pkgs (~3.95–4.65 lbs)

• Short Ribs 2 pkgs (~8.10–8.45 lbs)

• Brisket 3 pkgs (~3.00–6.70 lbs)

• Stew Meat 13 pkgs (~0.95–1.25 lbs)

• Tri-Tip Roasts 2 pkgs (~2.25 lbs)

Ground Beef (≈ 171 lbs)

• Ground Beef 114 pkgs (1.5 lbs each)

Freezer Space Required

Having a dedicated freezer makes it easy to:

• Stay organized
• Access cuts quickly
• Maintain long-term quality

Whole Cow vs. Grocery Store Beef

Why a Deposit Is Required (and How It Protects You)

When you reserve a Whole Cow from Nadig Farms, your $300 deposit does more than hold your spot — it allows us to plan processing, scheduling, and inventory accurately.

Because each animal is raised and processed specifically for families who reserve in advance, deposits ensure that:

• Your beef is allocated specifically to you
• Processing is scheduled with the butcher
• We can maintain consistent quality and availability

Why Buying a Whole Cow Saves Money

When families compare similar quality cuts, buying a Whole Cow is often significantly more affordable than purchasing beef at the grocery store.

With a Whole Cow, you’re:

• Paying a lower average price per pound
• Locking in pricing ahead of time
• Getting premium steaks, roasts, and ground beef at the same blended cost
• Reducing grocery trips for months at a time

For many families, a Whole Cow provides enough beef to last 6 – 12 months, depending on household size and eating habits.

Local Beef Raised for Families in Northern Illinois

Nadig Farms is a family-owned farm based in Northern Illinois, serving families throughout the Chicago suburbs and surrounding communities.

Our cattle are:

• Born and raised locally
• Processed at USDA-inspected facilities
• Delivered to families who want real food from a real farm

Many of our customers find us while searching for:

• “whole cow near me”
• “buy half a cow near me”
• “local beef in Northern Illinois”
• “whole cow for sale Illinois”

If you live in or around the Chicago suburbs, chances are we already serve families in your area.

📞 Questions? Call (815) 541-8527 for details.

What’s Included

Frequently Asked Questions

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Customer Reviews