Jack County, between Perrin and Jacksboro  ·  Ranch pickup & North Texas delivery Call or text (214) 202-1855
Lost Valley Beef Lost Valley BeefJack County, Texas (214) 202-1855

How buying a half or whole beef actually works

Five steps, start to finish. No jargon, no surprises, and no part of it you are expected to already understand.

  1. Get on the fresh beef list

    Sign up on our fresh beef list page with your name, email and address. It costs nothing and does not commit you to anything. Questions first? Call or text (214) 202-1855.

  2. We process a cow or two

    We take one or two animals to American Butchery in Mineral Wells. The carcass hangs in a cooler to age, which is what makes it tender, then it is cut, vacuum-sealed, flash-frozen and boxed.

  3. You hear first

    When the beef is back, the list gets an email before we post it anywhere else: what is available — quarters, halves, wholes and cuts — the weights and the price.

  4. Claim what you want

    Reply to the email or call (214) 202-1855 to claim your share. It is first come, first served, and quarters go fastest.

  5. Pick it up or we deliver

    Pick up at the ranch in Jack County, or we run it out to you if you are in our delivery area. Have the freezer cleared out before it arrives — a half beef is more boxes than people expect.

The short version: you get on the fresh beef list, we email you when an animal is back from the butcher, you claim the share you want, and you pick up boxes of labeled, frozen beef. Everything else on this site is detail underneath those five steps.

The three things people ask before they commit

"What is hanging weight?"

The single most confusing term in this business, and the reason two ranches' prices look nothing alike. Here is what it means and how to compare quotes properly.

Read the guide →

"Will it even fit in my freezer?"

How much freezer space a quarter, half and whole beef actually take, what size freezer to buy, and what it costs to run.

Read the guide →

"Is it actually cheaper?"

The honest math against grocery-store prices, cut by cut — including where buying in bulk does not save you money.

Read the guide →

Common questions

How far ahead do I need to order?
You do not order ahead. We process a cow or two at a time, email the fresh beef list as soon as the beef is back from the processor, and shares go first come, first served. Get on the list, or call (214) 202-1855 to ask what is coming up.
Do I pay all at once?
Call and we will walk you through how payment works for the share you want. We would rather tell you on the phone than post terms that change.
What if I have never done this before?
Most of the people we talk to have never done it before. That is normal, and there is no part of this you are expected to already know. Ask us anything — especially about the cut sheet, which is the part that trips everybody up the first time.
Can I see the cattle?
Yes. We are a family ranch in Jack County and we are glad to talk about how the animals are raised. Call ahead so we know you are coming.

Talk to the ranch

Start with a phone call

There is no form that answers your questions better than five minutes on the phone with the family that raised the animal.

(214) 202-1855

Monday–Thursday, 10am–2pm · Call or text

Get on the Beef List See Current Pricing