Description

How Much Does a Whole Cow Cost?

Most families who purchase a whole cow from us take home around 500 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?

Just me 2 people 3 people 4 people 5 people 6 or more

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?

1 to 2 times per week 3 to 4 times per week 5 to 7 times per week (daily) 8 to 10 times per week More than 10 times per week

Please choose how often your family eats beef to continue.

---

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? (optional)

Under $50 $50 to $100 $100 to $200 $200 to $300 $300 to $400 $400 or more

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

Price / savings Quality & flavor Knowing the farm Convenience

Back Continue

Step 3 of 3

About your purchase

Almost there. These last questions unlock your full estimate.

What size beef share are you considering? Your estimate will show a light, average, and heavy weight range for the size you pick. You can compare sizes on the results page too.

Eighth Cow about 80 lbs take-home · $85 deposit Quarter Cow about 125 lbs take-home · $100 deposit Half Cow about 250 lbs take-home · $200 deposit Whole Cow about 500 lbs take-home · $300 deposit

Please choose a size to continue.

How many families will share this beef?

Just my family Split with 1 other family Split with 2 other families Split with 3 other families

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 to 3 months 3 to 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, so 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 or 2 others Yes, several Rather not say

Back Calculate My Estimate

—

Your cost per meal

—

—

—

Your selected method

—

—

—

All it takes to reserve today

—

Your deposit locks in this week's price per pound.

Beef prices move weekly with the cattle market. Yours won't once you reserve. The balance isn't due until your beef is ready for delivery or scheduled pickup.

Not buying today? Take the checklist with you. 20 questions to ask any farm, and how to compare quotes fairly. Get it →

How paying for it actually works

1. Today

—

2. At processing

—

3. Delivery day

—

Each one is itemized in the cost breakdown below, plus any sales tax at checkout. Nothing is hidden.

Your final invoice uses take-home weight: the trimmed, vacuum sealed pounds that actually go in your freezer, not the hanging weight at the butcher.

Ready to claim your share?

—

Reserve your share

Feb 4 Now booking Now booking whole cows for February 4, 2027 processing

We process a small number of animals on each date, and once a date fills, it's gone. If you miss this one, the next date for whole cows is March 3, 2027.

Reserve your whole cow today and it will be ready for pickup or delivery in late February 2027. That's February 4, 2027 processing plus about 3 weeks for the butcher to hang, cut and wrap it. We'll reach out to confirm pickup or delivery before then.

January 7, 2027 still has room for 1 quarter cow or 2 eighth cows.

Add to cart ($300 deposit)

What happens after you click

—

2. Your beef order is reserved for the next available processing date. Your placement is guaranteed and your price per pound is locked in.

3. We coordinate a delivery or scheduled pickup date that works best for your schedule.

"Nadig Farms is my new farmer for beef. Great people to work with and very upfront and knowledgeable. If you have questions about their beef they are happy to answer. Competitive pricing delivered to your home, not much more a person could ask for. Thank you Nadig Farms!"

John, Knoxville, Illinois

Free · No sales calls

You have our number. Now make sure it’s a fair one.

We wrote the checklist we’d want our own family to use. Take it to any farm you’re considering, including ours. If we don’t come out well, you still got what you came for.

3 pages · print or phone

• 20 questions to ask any farm, and what a straight answer sounds like.
• The weight math — why a price quoted on hanging weight can be nearly double what you think.
• Freezer sizes that are actually right, for every share size.
• A worksheet to compare three farms side by side.

We'll send the checklist plus this estimate, with a link
that brings your numbers right back. Unsubscribe anytime. No sales calls.

Just want your numbers?

Skip the checklist and we’ll send this breakdown on its own. Worth knowing either way: this estimate uses this week's price per pound, and prices move with the cattle market. Your deposit is what locks yours in.

Email me my estimate

Includes a link that brings your numbers right back, so you can talk it over at home. No sales calls.

You said something was on your mind

Fair questions. Here are real answers.

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

Totally optional. This helps us understand how we compare to what you're used to.

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

Weeks of beef

—

—

All-in price per pound

—

beef and processing included

Cost breakdown

Beef from the farm, by take-home weight —

Processing fee, paid directly to the butcher —

Delivery —

Your estimated total —

Your family's share —

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

	Take-Home Weight Pricing	Hanging Weight Pricing
Advertised Price	—	$9.25 / lb
Weight Used	Beef you receive	Before processing
Effective Take-Home Cost	—	~$16.82 / lb

Take-Home Weight Pricing (Our Farm)

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

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

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

Check Delivery Availability

Hold tight, Bill is checking your area…

Customer Reviews