Buy a Quarter or Half Cow in Wisconsin: Bulk Grass-Fed Beef Guide
Buying beef in bulk is the simplest way to fill your freezer with high-quality, grass-fed beef and spend less time at the grocery store. This guide explains how buying a quarter cow, half cow, or eighth share works at Waseda Farms: how much meat you get, what it costs, how much freezer space you need, and how to get it home.
Why Buy Bulk Beef from Waseda Farms?
- Grass-fed and grass-finished – our cattle are raised on pasture at our family farms, with no grain finishing.
- One flat price, paid at checkout – no hanging-weight math, no separate butcher bill, and no surprise processing fees.
- Already cut, wrapped, and frozen – you get a ready-to-use mix of ground beef, roasts, and steaks, vacuum-sealed for the freezer.
- No waiting for a harvest date – many farms sell bulk beef only once or twice a year by reservation. Our bulk beef packages can be ordered online any time they're in stock.
- Free shipping in Wisconsin and Illinois – all of our bulk beef packages ship free anywhere in WI and IL, or pick up at our Waseda Farms Market in De Pere.
Quarter Cow vs. Eighth Share vs. Half Cow
| Option | Approx. Beef | Price | Freezer Space | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/8 Beef Share | Approx. 53 lb | $647 | 2–3 cu ft | First-time bulk buyers, 2–4 people |
| 1/4 Beef (Quarter Cow) | Approx. 105 lb | $1,294 | About 4 cu ft | Families of 4–6 or heavy beef eaters |
| 1/2 Beef (Half Cow) | Approx. 210 lb | $2,588 | About 8 cu ft | Large families or splitting with friends |
Weights are approximate and vary slightly from animal to animal.
What Comes in a Quarter Cow?
Our Quarter Beef package includes approx. 105 lb of grass-fed, grass-finished beef, with no smoked or processed products:
- Ground beef – approx. 60 lb: 60 × 1 lb packages
- Roasts and stew meat – approx. 30 lb: 3 chuck roasts, 2 round roasts, 2 brisket roasts, 2 sirloin roasts, and 5 × 1 lb packages of stew meat
- Steaks and kabob meat – approx. 14 lb: 4 tenderloin filets, 4 New York strips, 4 boneless ribeyes, 4 boneless sirloins, and 4 × 1 lb packages of kabob meat (NY strip, ribeye, and sirloin)
What Comes in a Half Cow?
Our Half Cow package is double the quarter, approx. 210 lb of grass-fed, grass-finished beef:
- Ground beef – approx. 120 lb: 120 × 1 lb packages
- Roasts and stew meat – approx. 60 lb: 6 chuck roasts, 4 round roasts, 4 brisket roasts, 4 sirloin roasts, and 10 × 1 lb packages of stew meat
- Steaks and kabob meat – approx. 28 lb: 8 tenderloin filets, 8 New York strips, 8 boneless ribeyes, 8 boneless sirloins, and 8 × 1 lb packages of kabob meat (NY strip, ribeye, and sirloin)
What Comes in an Eighth Share?
Our 1/8 Beef Share is approx. 53 lb of grass-fed, grass-finished beef and a great way to try bulk beef:
- Ground beef – approx. 30 lb: 30 × 1 lb packages
- Roasts and stew meat – approx. 16.5 lb: 2 chuck roasts, 1 round roast, 2 brisket roasts, and 2 × 1 lb packages of stew meat
- Steaks and kabob meat – approx. 7 lb: 2 tenderloin filets, 2 New York strips, 2 boneless ribeyes, 2 boneless sirloins, and 2 × 1 lb packages of kabob meat (NY strip, ribeye, and sirloin)
How Much Freezer Space Do I Need?
A good rule of thumb is about 1 cubic foot of freezer space for every 30–35 lb of packaged beef.
- 1/8 share: 2–3 cubic feet – a cleared-out over-the-fridge freezer can often hold it.
- Quarter cow: about 4 cubic feet – a small chest freezer (5 cu ft) is ideal.
- Half cow: about 8 cubic feet – plan on a mid-size chest or upright freezer.
How Long Will It Last?
A 1/8 share typically feeds 2–4 people for 2–4 months. A quarter cow usually lasts a family of four 4–6 months, depending on how often you cook beef. Vacuum-sealed beef keeps its quality in the freezer for about a year.
Pickup and Shipping
- Free shipping in Wisconsin and Illinois on our 1/8 Beef Share, Quarter Beef, and Half Cow packages.
- Nationwide shipping – we ship to every U.S. state except Hawaii. Outside Wisconsin and Illinois, shipping charges apply at checkout.
- Pickup at our Waseda Farms Market in De Pere, WI.
Bulk beef ships frozen in insulated packaging. After checkout, delivery or pickup is typically within a week, and we'll contact you to confirm pickup or shipping details. See Ordering & Shipping for more details.
Do you ship bulk beef outside Wisconsin?
Yes. We ship to every U.S. state except Hawaii. Shipping is free in Wisconsin and Illinois on all bulk beef orders, including the 1/8 share, quarter, and half cow; everywhere else, shipping is calculated at checkout.
Bulk Beef FAQ
Is a quarter cow worth it?
If you eat beef regularly and have the freezer space, yes. You get a full year's variety of steaks, roasts, and ground beef from one farm at one flat price, and you shop for beef far less often.
How is your pricing different from hanging-weight pricing?
Many farms charge by hanging weight (the weight of the carcass before cutting), then bill processing separately, so the final cost isn't known until pickup. Our bulk beef packages have one flat price for the packaged beef you take home.
Can I buy a half cow?
Yes. Our Half Cow package is about 210 lb of beef for $2,588, exactly double our quarter. It's a great fit for large families or for splitting between two households.
Can I split a quarter with friends or family?
Absolutely. Many customers split a quarter between two households, or start with the 1/8 share instead.
Is your bulk beef grass-fed and grass-finished?
Our cattle are raised and finished on grass on our family farms' pastures. Learn more on our Our Animals and Our Land pages.
Can I customize my bulk beef package?
Yes. Roasts, stew meat, and ground beef can be customized – we can adjust these cuts or add more to your package. Steaks can be decreased, but not increased: because each animal yields a limited number of steaks, we can reduce the steak amounts but can't add more. To customize, you must contact us – we won't reach out about customizations, so please let us know what you'd like to change. Customizations change your price – adding roasts or ground beef, or removing steaks, will adjust your package price, and we'll update your pricing once we hear from you.
Are the exact cuts and weights guaranteed?
Every animal is different, so total weight and individual cut sizes can vary slightly. You'll always receive a balanced mix of ground beef, roasts, and steaks.
Ready to Fill Your Freezer?
Shop the Quarter Beef package →
Shop the Half Cow package →
Shop the 1/8 Beef Share →
Browse all grass-fed beef →