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How to buy beef from a farm

Published on 23rd October, 2025

How to buy from a farmer!

Buying from a farm is different to buying from a supermarket or butcher. Usually they won’t have meat “lying around” waiting for your order.

Think of it as ordering direct from the paddock, just for you!

In order for beef to be done well, it takes about 3 weeks to go from the farm to your fridge, and abattoirs don’t run every day.. so we recommend people allow between 3 and 5 weeks for a large order – especially when ordering from a smaller farm.

As always, please refer to the individual farm and product when ordering.

You will receive a very high quality product – unlike what you can usually purchase as a consumer.

We just can’t rush the process!

Start with a 5kg Try and See?

A full side - shared with many

Try and See boxes let you try the quality of the meat before diving into a larger box.

You’ll get mince, steaks and roasts. But remember each farm is different so be sure to check the individual product descriptions.

Every cut is on the table, from the Osso Bucco, to eye fillet!

Grass fed cow

These 5kg boxes allow a famer to split a full size between many people! You can’t choose your cuts though!

Try and See Box Pro and Con List

Pros
  • Small box
  • Low total spend
  • Try the quality
  • Fits in your existing fridge
Cons
  • Higher price / kg than the bigger boxes
  • Can be a long wait for a small quantity
  • No cut choices – you get a range, but you can’t specify exactly what you get.

Grab a 1/8th Box - Approx 18kg

A full side - split between 4

The 1/8th box is the most economical way to buy from the farmer – unless you want to buy a 1/4 or a full side of beef.

Many farms sell in 1/8th as it’s an easy way to help get the size of a cow down to something ‘manageable” without incurring the high fees in packing and shipping to do the “Try and See” boxes.

Some options are listed below, but MANY more can be found via the marketplace.

beef
1/8th Box Pro and Con List
Pros
  • Best for 2 people
  • Lower $/kg than a 5kg box
  • Loads of beef – but not TOO much beef!
  • Try EVERY cut in a cow
  • Helps out the farmers!
Cons
  • Be aware you’ll only get 1 piece of fillet and 2 of each ‘primary steak” unless it’s a GIANT side.
  • Unable to enjoy Supermarket meat
  • Can’t choose “cut up” options

Grab a 1/4 Cow! - Approx 40kg

A full side - split between 2

A 1/4 cow is a full side, split between 2 people. You’ll usually get slightly more than double ordering a 1/8th. The reasons for this are complicated, but ultimately come down to ‘trimming’ and preparation of boxes.

If not every steak has to be “perfect” then you’ll end up with more steak

At this sized box you’ll certainly need a chest freezer!

Most farmers will offer a 1/4 as their minimum size due to the cost savings in both packing and butchering.

grass finished beef
1/4qtr Box Pro and Con List
Pros
  • Best for 2 – 4 people
  • Lower $/kg than a 5kg box
  • Try EVERY cut in a cow
  • More “Cut up” options (choose how your beef is cut up)
Cons
  • More $$ outlay than the smaller boxes
  • Unable to enjoy Supermarket meat
  • Requires a chest freezer

Grab a 1/2 Cow! - Approx 80kg - 100kg

A full side - Just for you!

A full side of beef… lets hope you’ve got a big freezer!

This product is the way to get exactly what you want, with multiple cut up options and the most flexibility!

After all, the entire side of beef is yours and yours alone!

You’ll also end up with the best possible price per kg!

Buying a full side of beef is the best way to support the smaller farmers, as it allows then to keep their costs down. Many butchers will only process in 1/2 and 1/4 cows too … so you’ll find MOST of the farms on the platform offer this option.

Buy beef
1/2 Cow Box Pro and Con List
Pros
  • Best for lots of people or carnivores
  • Generally lowest $/kg
  • Try EVERY cut in a cow
  • Most Options and flexibility in “Cut up” options (choose how your beef is cut up)
Cons
  • None
  • Large $$ Outlay in both cow and freezer space

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