Following is a description of pricing for an "average" size 1,000 pound animal:
Today's "live-weight" price is $2.30 per pound.
Animal weighs 1,000 pounds
Price is $2.30 x 1,000 = $2,300
Half would be $2,300/2 = $1150
Quarter would be $2,300/4 = $575
The above is paid to Eric Stickdorn.
Send check made out to Eric Stickdorn to PO Box 63, New Lisbon, IN 47366.
The butcher fee is separate.
For a typical 1,000 pound animal the butcher fee is approximately $1,000 depending on the various cutting instructions.
Whole animal is = $1,000
Half would be $1,000/2 = $500,
Quarter would be $1,000/4 = $250.
You pay the butcher fee when you pick up your meat.
Therefore, for a quarter of a beef, the total cost is $575 + $250 = $825
The final yield of meat is typically 43 percent of the live weight so an equivalent price per pound (like in the grocery store) is $825/108 pounds = $7.64 per pound.
Here is a website from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture with a simple explanation of beef cuts. https://files.givewell.org/files/labs/animal-product-replacements/fs-cowweight.pdf
Another lengthy, but insightful explanation for beef cuts and pricing by The Krazy Coupon Lady can be found at the following website: https://thekrazycouponlady.com/tips/money/buying-cow-cost-cuts-beef-worth-it
One of our butchers, Fishers Meats in Portland, Indiana, has a very good explanation of processing instructions on their website: http://fishermeats.com/beef_form.php
I hope the above helps. Always feel free to e-mail any questions to me, Eric, at estickdorn@gmail.com
See also this website about grass-fed beef health effects by Cleveland Clinic:
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/grass-fed-vs-organic-meat-whats-the-difference/