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Questions to ask a farm before buying a beef share

Farm prices verified on farms' own sites on Oct 27, 20269 sources citedUpdated Oct 27, 2026General information, not financial, legal or health advice

Short answer: Before you pay a deposit, ask: (1) Is the price per pound of live, hanging or packaged weight? (2) Is processing included? (3) Is the deposit refundable? (4) When is the processing date, and where do I pick up? Florida farms answer all four differently[2][3][4][5].

Price

  1. What weight is the price based on? Live, hanging and packaged weight give very different totals. See hanging vs. take-home weight.
  2. Is processing included? Haw Creek's price includes butcher fees[3]. Price Creek's doesn't: you pay the butcher an $80 kill fee plus $1.00/lb[2].
  3. What's the estimated total and take-home weight for my share size?
  4. How do I pay? Price Creek Farm takes cash only[2]. Barton Beef takes $100 off for cash[5].

Deposit and timing

  1. How much is the deposit, and is it refundable? Many aren't. Florida Premium Beef and Haw Creek both say theirs are non-refundable[4][3].
  2. When is the processing date? Haw Creek posts pickup dates[3]. Southern Oak lists May and October 2027[6]. Arrowhead runs a wait list[7].
  3. How long from deposit to pickup? Fifty Ten Farms quotes 6–8 weeks[8]. Anchor Bend says about two weeks after processing[9].

Cuts and processing

  1. Can I choose my cuts for this share size? Quarters are often a set mix[5].
  2. Which processor do you use, and is it custom-exempt or USDA-inspected? See finding a processor.
  3. Do I get organ meats, bones or the tongue and heart? Price Creek gives one-per-animal items first-come, first-served on halves[2].

Pickup

  1. Where do I pick up: the farm, the processor or a delivery route? Barton Beef shares are picked up at the slaughterhouse in Seville[5].
  2. How is it packed (vacuum-sealed or paper), and how many boxes or coolers should I bring?[1]

Print this list, or use our Florida farm directory. Each farm page shows which of these the farm's website already answers.

FAQ

What should I ask before buying half a cow?

Ask whether the price is per pound of live, hanging or packaged weight; whether processing is included; whether the deposit is refundable; when the processing date is; whether you can choose your cuts; and where you pick up.

Are beef share deposits refundable?

Often not. Several Florida farms, including Florida Premium Beef and Haw Creek Cattle Company, say their deposits are non-refundable. Confirm before you pay.

Sources

  1. University of Missouri Extension, Buying Meat Direct From the Farm (MX3001) (extension PDF)
  2. Price Creek Farm, Freezer Meat (seen Oct 27, 2026)
  3. Haw Creek Cattle Company, Bulk beef & availability (seen Oct 27, 2026)
  4. Florida Premium Beef, Beef share deposits (seen Oct 27, 2026)
  5. Barton Beef, FAQ (seen Oct 27, 2026)
  6. Southern Oak Farms (seen Oct 27, 2026)
  7. Arrowhead Beef, Bulk shares (seen Oct 27, 2026)
  8. Fifty Ten Farms, Half beef share (seen Oct 27, 2026)
  9. Anchor Bend Ranch (seen Oct 27, 2026)