How Much Packaged Beef Will I Receive?

There is no single number that tells you exactly how much packaged beef will
come from every animal. Carcass size, fat cover, muscling, aging, trimming,
boneless versus bone-in choices and the cut sheet all affect the final yield.

Weight changes during processing

The first major reduction occurs when a live animal becomes a dressed
carcass. Another reduction occurs as the carcass is aged, trimmed, cut and
deboned.

Your cut sheet changes the result

Choosing boneless steaks and roasts generally produces a different packaged
weight than keeping more bone-in cuts. The amount of fat trimmed and whether
bones or organs are returned also affects what you take home.

Ground beef can change the total

Customers who request more cuts to be ground may receive a different mix of
packages than customers who keep more roasts, ribs or other cuts intact.

Ask for a range, not a promise

An experienced farmer or processor can often provide an estimated range
based on previous animals of similar size and finish. Treat that as an
estimate rather than a guaranteed yield.