Farm Raised Beef
Milky Way Farm Beef
Our Cattle
Our beef animals are Red Angus × Jersey crossbreds. This pairing produces a more heat-tolerant animal with exceptional marbling, often higher than any single breed can provide.
We raise our animals 15–18 months on grass, then finish them for 30 days on feed prior to delivery to the processor. If you prefer grass-finished beef, we can accommodate that option when purchasing a whole animal.
We take pride in raising our animals responsibly, never using hormones or steroids at any point in their development.
Pricing
We charge $6.50 per pound hanging weight for the delivered animal. Hanging weight is the weight of the carcass (meat and bone only) after processing, while it hangs in cool storage for 10–14 days. The average hanging weight of our beef is 550–650 pounds.
Once the processor provides the final hanging weight, we’ll send you a payment request (minus your deposit). Payment can be made by cash or check prior to pick-up.
Processing Fees
The buyer pays the processing fees directly to the USDA processor at pick-up.
Current rates
- Kill fee: $110 (split for halves)
- Processing: $1.35–$1.60 per lb hanging weight
Example
Whole beef cow: 550 lbs hanging weight
- Pay to Milky Way Farm: 550 lbs × $6.50 = $3,575
- Pay to Processor: (550 lbs × $1.35) + $110 = $852.50
Total estimated cost: $4,427.50
(Take-home weight averages about 60%, depending on preferred cuts and processing.)
Halves are divided nose-to-tail, with the total hanging weight and kill fee split evenly.
Deposit
To secure your beef, a non-refundable deposit is required. Your deposit will be applied toward the final total.
- $300 for a half
- $600 for a whole
Processing Location
All beef is processed by a USDA-inspected facility in Forest City, North Carolina, which will also be your pick-up location once processing is complete.
Don’t want a whole cow?
We also sell one pound backs of Milky Way Farm ground beef. Add to your milk order when supplies are available or email us to pick-up at the farm.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Our beef herd consists of Angus genetics and all our animals have some Jersey influence but never more than 50%.
All cattle are born and raised on our farm in Starr. We keep our herd healthy by maintaining a closed herd. This means we never introduce outside cattle to our herd and therefore decrease their risk and exposure to disease.
We harvest both heifers and steer between 15-24 months of age with the majority being 18 months. The age at harvest is dependent on the animal’s growth and muscle/fat ratio.
Our per pound beef price is based on hanging carcass weight delivered to the processor. This weight is taken after harvest with organs, hide, head and feet removed. The payment is made to Milky Way Farm. The processing payment is separate and made directly to the processor.
We deliver the animal and the associated cut sheet to a local processor on the reserved processing date. They will harvest the animal and provide hanging weights within one-two days of harvest.
The carcass will hang for 10-14 days and then be cut according to the custom cut sheets. It will be deep frozen prior to pick-up. The payment for processing is made by the customer directly to the processor according to their current cost.
The graphic below provides a great visual for estimating the freezer space you’ll need based on the amount of beef you purchase.
As a general rule of thumb:
- Half beef: 8–10 cubic feet of freezer space
- Whole beef: 16–20 cubic feet of freezer space
A chest freezer typically offers the most efficient use of space, but an upright freezer works well too. It’s helpful to ensure your freezer is organized and cold before pickup. All beef will be vacuum-sealed and frozen, ready for long-term storage.
This depends on if someone purchases a half or whole and the live weight of the animal.
The following are the weights including average carcass loss:
- Dressing 62%
Example: 1,000 lbs live weight, means 620 lbs hanging carcass weight - Bone in Packaging 68%
Example: 620 lbs hanging carcass weight, means 421 lbs of meat - Boneless Packaging 85%
Example: 421.6 lbs bone in meat, means 358 lbs of boneless meat
We will provide you with a custom cut sheet once your deposit is received.
This form allows you to choose exactly how your beef is processed, including: types of steaks and roasts, number of steaks per package and weight of each package.
Additional options such as stew meat, cubed steak, ribs, soup bones, or even organs and other non-traditional cuts
Your total take-home weight depends on how your beef is cut and the percentage of bone-in versus boneless meat you select.
All beef is vacuumed sealed.
It will last up to one year in a deep freezer.
Beef is sold on a first-come, first-served basis, and your deposit must be received to hold a whole or half animal.
If you have questions, please email us at milkywayfarmsc@gmail.com and reference the Custom Beef FAQ.
If you’re ready to secure your beef or would like to discuss details, please call or text 706-506-5293.
The final payment is due after the hanging carcass weight is provided from the processor. Beef payments can be made by check or cash. Checks should be made out to Milky Way Farm.
When the beef is ready for pick up (14 days after harvest) and the final payment is made to Milky Way Farm it can be picked up directly from the processor.
