Answer
How much beef is in an eighth of a beef?
1/8 Beef Share from Shipley Farms is 40 to 42 lbs of packaged beef across 19 cuts, frozen and labelled. Ships frozen, or collect it at the butcher. It is a cross-section of one animal, so it carries steaks, roasts, ground beef and the slower cuts together. A an eighth of a beef suits one or two people, a first try at buying in bulk, or a freezer that is already half full.
What you actually get
A an eighth of a beef from Shipley Farms is 40 to 42 lbs, packaged, labelled and frozen, spread across 19 different cuts. That is steaks, roasts, ground beef and the stew and bone cuts from the same animal, not a box of one thing. Ships frozen, or collect it at the butcher.
How the shares compare
| Share | Packaged weight | Cuts | Collection |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/8 Beef Share | 40 to 42 lbs | 19 cuts | Ships frozen, or collect it at the butcher. |
| Quarter Beef Share | about 85 lbs | 23 cuts | Pickup only. |
| Half Beef Share | about 175 lbs | 26 cuts | Pickup only. |
The cut count rises with the share because a larger share takes whole primals that a smaller one cannot be divided into.
Who each share fits
A an eighth of a beef suits one or two people, a first try at buying in bulk, or a freezer that is already half full. The other two sizes exist because freezer space and how often a household cooks beef vary more than anything else about this decision.
When a share is the wrong buy
A share is not the right purchase for everyone, and it is worth saying so plainly. If you do not have the freezer space, if you want to try the beef before committing to a share of it, or if you want particular cuts rather than a whole animal's worth, buy by the cut instead. The curated boxes and the full catalog exist for exactly that, and they ship nationwide where the larger shares are pickup only.
Picking it up
Shares are collected at one of three High Country points: the farm in Vilas, Train4Life in Boone, or FA Fitness in Blowing Rock. Pick-up is free. Addresses and days are on the pick-up page.
Key facts
- A 1/8 Beef Share is 40 to 42 lbs of packaged beef across 19 cuts.Source: Shipley Farms catalog
- Shipley Farms has raised and sold beef in Vilas, North Carolina since 1872.Source: Shipley Farms
- The cattle are English breeds, Hereford, Red and Black Angus, and South Devon, raised on pasture and never in confinement.Source: Shipley Farms FAQs
- Pick-up is free at three High Country locations: the farm in Vilas, Boone, and Blowing Rock.Source: Shipley Farms pick-up locations
Common follow-ups
How many cuts are in a 1/8 beef share?
19 cuts. Each share is a cross-section of the animal, so it carries steaks, roasts, ground beef and the slower cuts together rather than a single category.
Can a 1/8 beef share be shipped?
Yes, it ships frozen, and it can also be collected at the butcher.
Can the beef be dry-aged?
Yes. Every share size has a dry-aged version alongside the standard one, listed separately in the freezer beef program.
What does a 1/8 beef share cost?
Current pricing is on the 1/8 beef share page. Prices change with the season and the animal, so they are kept on the product page rather than repeated here, where they would go stale.
Keep reading
See the 1/8 Beef Share, or compare every size in the freezer beef program. Questions go to beef@shipleyfarmsbeef.com or 828-484-1872.