When you place an order, you are reserving a portion of an animal — such as a quarter, half, or whole beef, or a side or whole hog — with a deposit. Once your animal is processed, the final price is calculated based on the hanging weight. Your meat is then professionally cut, packaged, labeled, and frozen by the butcher before pickup.

Don’t worry — many of our customers are first-time bulk meat buyers. We’re happy to help explain the process, answer questions, and guide you through the cut sheet options. Most customers find the process much easier than they expected.

Hanging weight is the weight of the animal after harvest and before the meat is cut and packaged. Final pricing for bulk beef and pork is based on hanging weight, which is standard practice when purchasing meat in bulk directly from a farm.

Packaged take-home meat weight will be less than the hanging weight because of trimming, bone removal, moisture loss during aging, and processing. The exact amount varies depending on cut selections and processing preferences.

As a general estimate:

• Quarter Beef — approximately 100–130 pounds of packaged meat

• Half Beef — approximately 200–260 pounds

• Whole Beef — approximately 400–520 pounds

• Side of Pork — approximately 65–90 pounds

• Whole Hog — approximately 130–180 pounds

These numbers are estimates and may vary depending on the size of the animal and your cut sheet selections.

Freezer space depends on the amount of meat purchased. As a general guideline:

• Side of Pork — approximately 4 cubic feet

• Whole Hog — approximately 8 cubic feet

• Quarter Beef — approximately 4–5 cubic feet

• Half Beef — approximately 8 cubic feet

• Whole Beef — approximately 16 cubic feet

We recommend having freezer space ready before pickup.

After placing your order, we will send you a butcher cut sheet. The cut sheet allows you to choose how you would like your meat prepared, including steak thickness, roast sizes, pork chop options, ground beef packaging, curing and smoking selections, and more.

If you have never filled out a cut sheet before, don’t worry — we are happy to help guide you through the process.

Yes. All bulk beef and pork orders are professionally packaged, labeled, and frozen before pickup to help maintain freshness and make transportation and freezer storage easier.

You can pick up directly from our farm in Milaca, MN or select from scheduled community drop-off locations across Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Available pickup locations and schedules may vary depending on season and customer demand.

Possibly. We regularly evaluate additional community drop-off locations based on customer demand and regional order volume. Feel free to contact us if you are interested in a pickup location in your area.

Once your order is ready, we will contact you with pickup dates, times, and exact location details.

Buying meat in bulk is one of the most cost-effective ways to stock your freezer with high-quality beef and pork while knowing exactly where your food comes from. Whether purchasing a whole beef, half beef, side of pork, whole hog, or smaller quantities, many customers appreciate the convenience of having a variety of cuts readily available at home.