Understanding Beef Cuts: What You Get in a Quarter, Half, or Whole Order

Ordering a quarter, half, or whole beef from a ranch can feel a bit like stepping into unknown territory—especially if you're used to picking up just a few steaks or roasts at the grocery store. At Six 9 Ranch, we want you to feel confident and excited about filling your freezer with Wagyu Angus cross beef, so let’s break down exactly what you can expect in each type of order.

How It Works: From Live Weight to Your Freezer

When you place an order, you’ll often hear the term “hanging weight”—this is the weight of the animal after it’s been harvested and dressed (before cutting and trimming). The take-home beef you receive is usually about 60–65% of the hanging weight, once bones and excess fat are removed and everything is cut, wrapped, and frozen.

Here’s a quick look at average weights and yields:

Order Size	Hanging Weight (approx.)	Take-Home Beef (approx.)	Freezer Space
Quarter Cow	175–200 lbs	90–100 lbs	~4 cu. ft.
Half Cow	350–400 lbs	180–200 lbs	~8 cu. ft.
Whole Cow	700–800 lbs	360–400 lbs	~16 cu. ft.

So, What Do You Get?

Your order includes a mix of premium cuts, everyday favourites, and versatile staples. Here’s a breakdown by category to help you visualize what’s going into your freezer.

🥩 Steaks (Customer Favourites!)

• Ribeye

• Striploin (also known as New York strip)

• Tenderloin (filet mignon)

• Sirloin

• Flank

• Skirt

• Flat iron

👉 Expect around 20–30 steaks in a quarter, 40–60 in a half, and 80+ in a whole cow—depending on how thick you want them cut.

🍖 Roasts (Perfect for Crockpot, Smoker & Oven)

• Chuck Roast

• Sirloin Tip Roast

• Rump Roast

• Cross Rib Roast

• Brisket (whole or halved)

👉 A quarter cow includes 3–5 roasts, a half will have 6–10, and a whole may give you 12+ roasts. Roasts are fantastic for meal prepping and family dinners.

🍔 Ground Beef (Versatile & Crowd-Pleasing)

This is the most abundant product in every order and the one you’ll likely use most often.

👉 A quarter cow yields 35–50 lbs of ground beef, a half gives you 70–100 lbs, and a whole cow provides 140–200+ lbs.

You can choose 1 lb or 1.5 lb packages—whatever suits your family size best.

🍲 Other Cuts & Extras

Depending on your preferences and how you fill out your cut sheet, you may also receive:

• Short ribs

• Stew beef

• Soup bones (great for making broth!)

• Shank (ideal for slow cooking)

• Organ meats (by request: heart, liver, tongue)

• Oxtail

• Marrow bones

These are often overlooked but incredibly flavourful and nutrient-dense additions to your order.

Can I Customize What I Get?

Yes! One of the best parts of buying direct from Six 9 Ranch is that you get a custom cut sheet when you purchase a half or whole cow (and sometimes with a quarter, depending on if you're splitting with someone else).

You can specify:

• Steak thickness

• Roast sizes

• Whether you want more ground beef or more roasts

• Which bones or organ meats you’d like included

We’ll walk you through the whole process, so there’s no guesswork or surprises.

Visualizing a Quarter Cow Order: Example Breakdown

Here’s what a typical quarter cow order might look like:

Cut Type	Amount (approx.)
Ribeye Steaks	4–6
Striploin Steaks	4–6
Sirloin Steaks	4–6
Flank/Skirt	1 of each
Roasts	4–5 (variety)
Ground Beef	35–50 lbs
Stew Meat	3–4 lbs
Short Ribs	2–4 lbs
Soup Bones	2–5 lbs
Brisket	Half

Multiply those quantities by 2 for a half cow, and by 4 for a whole.

Not Sure What You’ll Use? Here’s How Others Do It

• Families with kids love having ground beef, stew meat, and slow-cook roasts on hand for easy weeknight dinners.

• BBQ lovers stock up on ribeyes, brisket, and short ribs to make summer grilling season unforgettable.

• Meal preppers appreciate the variety, quality, and ability to cook in bulk.

• Older couples often split a quarter cow with friends or family, then reorder when they run low.

Want Help Choosing the Right Order Size?

We’re here to make the process easy. If you're not sure what size is right for your household—or how much freezer space you need—just reach out and we’ll walk you through it.

Our first crop of Wagyu Angus cross beef will be finished and ready in Spring 2025, and orders are already coming in.

👉 Reserve your quarter, half, or whole cow today to make sure you don’t miss out.

From our family ranch in Nanton, Alberta to your family’s dinner table—we’re proud to raise beef you can feel good about.