Retail Meat
504 lbs
Hanging
744 lbs
Cost/lb
$6
Yield
42%
744 lbs
62%
$6
$3,000
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Inputs
Result
1,200 × 0.62 = 744 lbs hanging. 1,200 × 0.42 = 504 lbs retail. Cost = 1,200 × $2.50 = $3,000. Per lb = $3,000 / 504 = $5.95.
Inputs
Result
280 × 0.72 = 201.6, rounds to 202 lbs. 280 × 0.52 = 145.6, rounds to 146 lbs. $560 / 146 = $3.84/lb.
A 1,200-lb beef steer yields about 744 lbs of hanging (carcass) weight (62%) and 504 lbs of retail cuts (42%). The remaining weight is hide, organs, bones, and fat trim. If you pay $2.50/lb live weight ($3,000 total), your actual cost is about $5.95 per pound of retail meat.
| Animal | Dressed % | Retail % | Avg Live Wt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beef Steer | 62% | 42% | 1,200 lbs |
| Pork Hog | 72% | 52% | 280 lbs |
| Lamb | 50% | 35% | 130 lbs |
| Chicken | 72% | 65% | 6 lbs |
Hanging weight (dressed weight) is the carcass after removing hide, head, hooves, and organs — typically 60–75% of live weight. Retail weight is what you take home after butchering removes bones, excess fat, and inedible trim — typically 65–75% of hanging weight, or 35–52% of live weight.
A 280-lb market hog yields about 202 lbs hanging weight (72%) and 146 lbs retail cuts (52%). Pork has the highest retail yield of common livestock because of thinner bones and less fat trim. At $2.00/lb live weight ($560 total), retail meat costs about $3.84 per pound.
Usually yes. A whole beef at $2.50/lb live weight costs about $5.95/lb retail — well below the $8–15/lb grocery store average. You also get premium cuts (ribeye, tenderloin) at the same per-pound price as ground beef. The tradeoff is a large upfront cost ($3,000+ for beef) and needing freezer space.
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Last Updated: Mar 20, 2026
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