If you have been wondering how to buy a side of beef, here is the short answer: it is simpler than it sounds. On SelectBEEF you reserve a share with a deposit, then pay the balance when you pick it up locally from the family that raised it.
That is the whole process. Below we walk through each step, what the share sizes mean and why pickup is local. Along the way we use a real share from McBride Angus Farm in Manchester, TN as an example.
What a beef share is
A beef share is a portion of one animal that you buy directly from the ranch that raised it. Instead of picking up a few steaks at a time, you reserve a bigger portion up front and fill the freezer in one go.
On SelectBEEF you can reserve a whole, half or quarter beef share direct from an American ranch. You can see the shares open for reservation on our beef shares page.
Fall is when a lot of families start planning for winter and the holidays, so it is a natural time to think about it.
Whole, half or quarter: what the sizes mean
The names tell you how much of the animal you are reserving:
- Whole: the entire animal.
- Half: half of the animal.
- Quarter: a quarter of the animal.
People use different words for these. You will hear "side of beef" a lot, and ranches name their own shares in their own way. McBride Angus Farm, for example, calls its quarter share the "Left Side". So the most reliable thing to do is open the share page and read what that ranch says is included, rather than going by the name alone.
How do you choose? It mostly comes down to how much beef your household eats, how much freezer room you have, and whether you plan to share it with family. If this is your first time, a quarter is the smallest of the three and an easy way to try buying beef this way.
Step 1: Reserve with a deposit
When you find a share you want, you reserve it and pay a deposit. That holds your share with the ranch. You do not pay the full amount up front.
Each share page sets out its own details, so read it before you reserve. If anything is unclear, you can always get in touch with us first.
Step 2: The ranch takes it from there
Once your share is reserved, the ranch takes it from there. Your beef is in the hands of the family who has been caring for the herd, which is a big part of why folks buy beef this way in the first place.
Timing depends on the ranch. If you want to know more before you commit, ask us and we will help you find the answer.
Step 3: Pay the balance at local pickup
When your beef is ready, you pick it up locally and pay the balance at pickup. Shares are picked up locally, not shipped.
That is one of the things we like most about shares. You collect your beef from the family that raised it, and you get to put a face to the name.
If you would rather have beef shipped to your door, ranchers on SelectBEEF can also offer individual cuts in the shop, with shipping as well as local pickup.
An example: the Left Side share from McBride Angus Farm
Here is what this looks like with a real ranch.
McBride Angus Farm is a family farm in Manchester, TN, raising Black Angus cattle since 2011. As the family tells it on their ranch page, they did not start from scratch: farming was always in the background. Their page shares more of that story and life in Manchester, and it is worth a read before you buy.
Their Left Side quarter share works exactly as described above. You reserve now and pay the balance at pickup. The share page has the details for that share, so that is the place to check what is included before you reserve.
If you live in or near Manchester, this is a straightforward way to fill the freezer with beef from a family you can name.
Why buying from a named ranch matters
When you buy a share on SelectBEEF, you are not buying from a faceless supplier. Every ranch has its own page with its story, so you know whose beef is going into your freezer. You can browse them all on the ranch map.
We built SelectBEEF around a simple idea: no middlemen, no mystery meat. Ranchers keep 100% of the proceeds from every sale, so when you reserve a share, your money goes to the family who raised your beef.
Before you reserve: a quick checklist
- Pick a size. Whole, half or quarter, based on your household and your freezer.
- Read the share page. Each ranch sets out what its share includes.
- Get to know the ranch. Read the family's story on their ranch page.
- Plan for pickup. Shares are picked up locally, so make sure the pickup works for you.
- Have questions? Our FAQ covers buying on SelectBEEF in general, and you can contact us about anything specific to shares.
Ready to fill the freezer?
Buying a beef share comes down to a few simple steps: choose a size, reserve with a deposit, then pay the balance when you pick it up locally. No guesswork about where your beef came from.
See the beef shares open for reservation, or start with the Left Side quarter share from McBride Angus Farm.