How it works
From pasture to freezer: how your order works
Buying an animal share isn't like buying shrink-wrapped packages at a store. Here's the whole process — what you pay, when you choose cuts, what to expect at pickup.
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Step 1 — Choose beef or lamb.
Pick a quarter beef or whole lamb and fill out the reservation form. If we have inventory, you'll get a confirmation and deposit instructions.
- 02
Step 2 — Pay your deposit.
$200 holds your order. . It's applied to your final balance. We accept cash, check, and Venmo.
- 03
Step 3 — Send your cutting instructions.
We'll send a cutting form and a deadline before processing. Pick your cuts and package sizes, or choose the standard cut. Specialty products are optional and billed separately.
- 04
Step 4 — The animal is processed.
Everything goes to Sailer's Food Market & Meat Processing in Elmwood, Wisconsin. Sailer's records the official hanging weight — that number sets your final base price. Then it's aged, cut, packaged, labeled, frozen, and staged for pickup.
- 05
Step 5 — Final invoice.
Beef: actual hanging weight × $8.75. Lamb: actual hanging weight × $12.50. Standard processing is already in that number. We subtract your deposit and add any specialty processing you picked.
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Step 6 — Pickup.
We'll contact you when it's ready. Pickup is at Hudson, WI during . Bring real coolers — a typical quarter needs several large ones and about 3–4 cubic feet of freezer space at home.
Orders need to be picked up by .
Understanding hanging weight
Hanging weight is measured right after slaughter, before cutting and deboning — so it still includes bone and fat that won't make it into your packages, and some moisture is lost during aging on top of that.
Don't expect 125 pounds of packaged beef from a 125-pound hanging quarter. That size quarter generally comes home as 75–85 pounds, depending on the animal and your cuts.
Pricing by hanging weight means every animal gets priced fairly for its actual size, and you still get to customize the finished product.
Before you reserve
Final cost and take-home weight are estimates until processing is done. You'll need adequate freezer space and the ability to pick up during the stated window. An animal share means a natural range of cuts, not a fixed order, and specialty products cost extra. Read the deposit and cancellation policy before you commit.
Check AvailabilityPolicies
Reservation and deposit policy
A reservation is confirmed only after we accept the order and receive the deposit. The deposit applies to your final price.
Weight and yield policy
All weights and totals shown before processing are estimates. Final base price comes from the actual hanging weight recorded by the processor. Packaged yield depends on the animal, aging, trimming, deboning, and your cutting instructions. We don't guarantee a specific packaged weight or cut count.
Processing policy
Standard processing is included in the advertised hanging-weight price. Specialty products and nonstandard services cost extra, and requesting them means you agree to pay for them.
Pickup policy
You're responsible for collecting your order at the confirmed time and place, and for transporting and storing it safely once it's yours.
Schedule and availability
Livestock availability, weight, and processing dates can shift because of animal health, weather, transport, or processor scheduling. If we can't fulfill an order, our liability is limited to .
Claims and certifications
Unless stated otherwise, the farms and products aren't certified organic. Husbandry claims apply to the animals sold through this site and reflect the practices of the participating farms.
Privacy
We collect what we need to answer questions, manage reservations, process payments, and coordinate cutting instructions and pickup. We don't sell or rent customer information.
Workshops & events policy