Answer
What are the beef share sizes, and which one should I buy?
Shipley Farms sells beef in four sizes: a 1/8 share at 40 to 42 lbs across 19 cuts, a quarter at about 85 lbs across 23 cuts, a half at about 175 lbs across 26 cuts, and a whole beef reserved ahead. Only the 1/8 ships; the rest are collected in Vilas, Boone or Blowing Rock. Size it to your freezer first and your appetite second.
The four sizes
| Share | Packaged weight | Cuts | Collection | Fits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/8 Beef Share | 40 to 42 lbs | 19 cuts | Ships frozen, or collect it at the butcher. | one or two people, a first try at buying in bulk, or a freezer that is already half full |
| Quarter Beef Share | about 85 lbs | 23 cuts | Pickup only. | a family of three or four eating beef a few times a week |
| Half Beef Share | about 175 lbs | 26 cuts | Pickup only. | a household that cooks beef most weeks, or two families splitting one share |
| Whole Beef | The whole animal | 26 cuts | Reserved ahead, then collected. | a large household, several families going in together, or a year of beef at once |
Packaged weight is what goes in your freezer, not the animal's hanging weight. The two numbers differ because bone, trim and moisture loss during aging come off in between, which is why a share is quoted both ways in this trade and why the packaged figure is the one worth comparing.
How to choose
Freezer space decides this more often than appetite does. Work out what you can actually store, then match the share to it, because beef you cannot freeze is the only way this purchase goes wrong. After that, consider how often you cook beef: the shares assume you are replacing most of your supermarket meat, not adding to it.
When to buy by the cut instead
Buy by the cut if you have not had the beef before, if your freezer is small, or if you want steaks without the roasts and stew cuts that come with a whole animal. Shares are pickup only above the 1/8; individual cuts and curated boxes ship nationwide.
Key facts
- The shares are 1/8 Beef Share (40 to 42 lbs, 19 cuts), Quarter Beef Share (about 85 lbs, 23 cuts), Half Beef Share (about 175 lbs, 26 cuts).Source: Shipley Farms catalog
- Shares above the 1/8 are pickup only; individual cuts and curated boxes ship anywhere in the United States by UPS.Source: Shipley Farms pick-up locations
- Every share size is also offered dry-aged.Source: Shipley Farms catalog
Common follow-ups
Which beef share is the most popular?
The quarter is the usual starting point for a family, at about 85 lbs across 23 cuts. The 1/8 is the one to take if you are unsure, because it is the only size that ships.
Can two households split a share?
Yes, and splitting a half is common. One person reserves and collects it, then the beef is divided afterwards. The farm sells the share as one order.
How long does a share last?
That depends on how often you cook beef, so the honest answer is to size the share to your freezer rather than to a month count. Storage guidance is in the FAQs.
Keep reading
Compare all four in the freezer beef program, or call 828-484-1872 and ask which one fits your freezer.