Your Privacy Choices

As described in our Privacy Policy, we collect personal information from your interactions with us and our website, including through cookies and similar technologies. We may also share this personal information with third parties, including advertising partners. We do this in order to show you ads on other websites that are more relevant to your interests and for other reasons outlined in our privacy policy.

Sharing of personal information for targeted advertising based on your interaction on different websites may be considered "sales", "sharing", or "targeted advertising" under certain U.S. state privacy laws. Depending on where you live, you may have the right to opt out of these activities. If you would like to exercise this opt-out right, please follow the instructions below.

If you visit our website with the Global Privacy Control opt-out preference signal enabled, depending on where you are, we will treat this as a request to opt-out of activity that may be considered a “sale” or “sharing” of personal information or other uses that may be considered targeted advertising for the device and browser you used to visit our website.

Family Farm Beef – FAQ

1. What does it mean to buy beef “by the side”?

Buying beef “by the side” means purchasing half of a cow directly from our farm. You get a variety of cuts—steaks, roasts, ground beef, and more—all processed and packaged to your specifications. It’s a great way to stock your freezer with high-quality, locally raised beef.

2. How does the process work?

  1. Reserve your side: Place a deposit to hold your spot in our next processing date.
  2. Processing: We take your animal to our trusted USDA-inspected processor.
  3. Aging process: Your beef is dry-aged for 18–21 days at the butcher to enhance tenderness and flavor.
  4. Cut instructions: You choose how you’d like your beef cut (or use our standard cut sheet).
  5. Pickup or delivery: Once packaged and frozen, we’ll coordinate delivery directly to you within a 120-mile radius of Stevenson, AL, or you can pick it up at the processor.

3. What’s included in the “all-in” price?

  • The animal itself (raised on our family farm)
  • Processing fees (cutting, wrapping, freezing, labeling)
  • Butcher paper/vacuum sealing
  • Transport to the processor
  • Farm handling and coordination

No hidden fees—the price you’re quoted is what you pay.

4. How is the beef priced?

We charge a simple all-in rate per pound based on hanging weight (weight after processing, before trimming/packaging).

Example:
Hanging weight: 300 lbs
Rate: $6.89/lb all-in
Total: 300 × $6.89 = $2,067

5. How much meat will I actually take home?

You’ll typically receive 60–65% of the hanging weight as take-home, packaged beef.

Example: From a 300 lb side → 180–200 lbs of finished beef.

6. What cuts are included in a side of beef?

  • Steaks: ribeye, sirloin, T-bone, filet, etc.
  • Roasts: chuck, rump, arm
  • Short ribs & stew meat
  • Ground beef
  • Optional organs or soup bones

You can customize steak thickness, package sizes, and cut preferences.

7. How much freezer space do I need?

A side of beef (~180–200 lbs packaged) requires 6–8 cubic feet of freezer space. Most small chest freezers or standard fridge/freezers won’t be enough. Dedicated freezer recommended.

8. How long will my beef last in the freezer?

Properly wrapped and frozen beef lasts 12–18 months while maintaining excellent quality.

9. Do I need to pay a deposit?

Yes. A deposit is required to reserve your side, with the balance due when your beef is ready.

10. Is the beef grass-fed or grain-finished?

All our cattle are pasture-raised and grain-finished for flavor, tenderness, and marbling. No hormones or routine antibiotics are used.

11. Do you deliver or offer pickup?

We’ll coordinate delivery with you, or you can pick it up at the processor. Either option is simple and convenient.

12. How do I order?

Contact us via website, email, or phone to reserve your side. We’ll guide you through every step—from deposit to delivery day!