How much beef is a quarter?
Our quarter beef typically has a hanging weight of approximately 180–230 pounds. Hanging weight is the weight of the carcass after harvest and dressing, before it is cut and packaged.

Your final take-home weight will be less than the hanging weight because of bone, fat, trimming and moisture loss during the aging process.

How much packaged beef should I expect?
As a general estimate, you can expect approximately 55%-60% of the hanging weight as take-home packaged beef, depending on how your beef is cut and trimmed.

Hanging Weight

Approx. Take-Home Beef*

HW 180 lbs Take Home 108lbs

HW 200 lbs Take Home 120 lbs

HW 230 lbs Take Home 138 lbs

*These are estimates, not guaranteed weights. Actual yield varies based on the animal and your cutting instructions.

What affects how much meat I take home?
Several things can affect your final packaged weight, including:

• How much bone is left in your cuts

• How much external fat is trimmed

• How much beef is turned into ground beef

• Whether you choose boneless or bone-in cuts

• How the beef is aged

• Your processor’s cutting and trimming practices

For example, choosing boneless steaks and roasts will generally reduce the weight of the finished product compared with bone-in cuts, even though you may end up with more usable meat.

How much freezer space will I need?
A good general estimate is about 1 cubic foot of freezer space for every 35–40 pounds of packaged beef.

For a typical Meadowland quarter, we recommend planning for approximately 3–5 cubic feet of freezer space, depending on the final amount of beef you receive and how efficiently your freezer is organized.

Will I get all the cuts shown on your website?
Not necessarily. The exact cuts you receive depend on the individual animal, the cutting instructions you select and how the processor breaks down the carcass.

That’s one of the advantages of buying a quarter, half or whole beef—you get a variety of cuts rather than simply selecting individual steaks from a grocery case.

Still not sure how much beef you need? Tell us how many people you’re feeding and how much freezer space you have, and we’ll help you decide whether a quarter, half or whole beef is the right fit.

Do I get to choose my cuts?
Yes. When you purchase a quarter, half or whole beef, you’ll receive a cutting order from the processor where you can select how you’d like your beef cut and packaged.

What is a cut sheet?
A cut sheet is the form you use to tell the processor how you’d like your beef prepared. You’ll make choices about steaks, roasts, ground beef, thickness, packaging and other options.

If you’ve never filled one out before, don’t worry—we can help you understand what the different choices mean.

Can I get more steaks instead of roasts?
Some cuts can be customized, while others are determined by the anatomy of the animal. Your processor’s cut sheet will explain the available options.

Can I request all ground beef?
Yes, depending on the purchase arrangement and processor options. This can be a great choice if you prefer versatility and don’t need as many individual steaks and roasts.

Where is Meadowland Beef processed?
Our beef is processed through a USDA-inspected facility.

How long does it take to get my beef?
The timeline depends on the harvest date, aging period and the processor’s schedule. We’ll provide an estimated pickup timeframe when your beef is scheduled.

How will my beef be packaged?
Your beef is packaged is vacuum sealed. Your beef will be professionally cut, packaged and labeled for freezer storage.

How do I pick up my beef?
We’ll provide pickup instructions and timing when your beef is ready.

Where is Meadowland Cattle Company located?
We’re a family cattle operation located in Shafer, Minnesota.

Are your cattle raised on pasture?
Our cattle spend time on pasture and are managed according to the season, weather and nutritional needs of the herd. We also use supplemental feed when appropriate.

Is your beef grass-fed?
Our cattle have access to pasture, but we don’t market our beef simply as “grass-fed.” Cattle may receive hay, pasture and supplemental feed depending on their stage of production and nutritional needs.

Is your beef grass-finished?
No. Meadowland Beef is not marketed as grass-finished. We believe in being straightforward about how our cattle are raised rather than relying on labels that may not tell the whole story.

What makes Meadowland Beef different?
For us, it comes down to knowing the cattle and caring about what we’re producing.

Our cattle are raised here in Minnesota with a focus on productive, functional animals, good management and producing beef we’d be proud to serve our own families.

Is Meadowland Beef USDA inspected?
Yes. Our beef is processed through a USDA-inspected facility.

Do you sell individual cuts?
Yes, when available. Follow us on social media or contact us to find out what cuts are currently available.

Do you sell ground beef?
Yes! Ground beef is one of the products we regularly offer.

How long has Meadowland been raising cattle?
Cattle have been part of the Meadowland family story for generations. The farm’s history is an important part of who we are today.

Who is Jerry?
Jerry is at the heart of Meadowland Cattle Company and has spent decades raising and working with cattle. His experience is a major part of the knowledge behind the operation today.

Who is John?
John is the next generation of Meadowland, continuing the cattle tradition while helping move the operation forward.

Who are Jennifer, Charlie, & Wyatt?
Charlie and Jennifer became part of the ranch life through helping with cattle, pastures and the day-today work on the ranch. Jennifer also helps with the digital side of Meadowland, sharing our cattle, stories and life on the ranch with the community.

And there’s Wyatt - the next generation, growing up around cattle, sheep, pastures and the people who built Meadowland.

We’re grateful to be part of the story, learn from those who came before us and help carry it forward.

What does family have to do with Meadowland?
Quite a bit.

Meadowland is more than cattle. It’s a family story that spans generations. Jerry and John are at the heart of the operation, and the next generation is becoming part of the story too.

Start by contacting us!

Buying a quarter or half beef can seem complicated the first time. Hanging weight, processing fees, cut sheets and freezer space can be confusing—but it doesn’t have to be.

We’ll walk you through the process, answer your questions and help you understand what to expect before you commit.