Hang weight
🥩 What is "Hanging Weight"?
Hanging weight, also known as carcass weight, is the weight of the animal after it has been slaughtered and dressed, but before it’s been cut into individual retail cuts. This includes meat, bones, and some fat, but excludes parts like the head, hide, blood, and organs.
This is the standard weight used by farmers and butchers to determine the value of the animal once it's processed.
💵 Why Do We Charge Based on Hanging Weight?
We use hanging weight because:
✅ It’s a standard industry measurement that's consistent and transparent.
✅ It reflects the actual usable product before custom cutting.
✅ It allows you (the customer) to choose how your meat is cut and packaged to your preferences (steaks, roasts, ground, bones, organs, etc.).
🔪 What Happens After Hanging Weight?
After the animal hangs and dries (a process called aging, which improves flavor and tenderness), the butcher will cut it to your specs. This is when the weight drops again due to:
- Trimming excess fat
- Removing bones (if boneless cuts are requested)
- Moisture loss during dry aging
Typically, you’ll end up with 60–70% of the hanging weight as packaged meat, depending on how you choose to have it cut.
🐄 Why Is This Better?
- More Transparency: You know exactly what you're paying for — not just the packaged meat, but also the bones, fat, and trim you might want for stock, lard, or pet food.
- Custom Cuts: You get control over how your meat is processed, unlike pre-cut meat at the grocery store.
- Better Value: While the final packaged weight is less, you're often paying less per pound than store-bought meat — and it's higher quality.
- Support for Local & Regenerative Farming: This model keeps pricing sustainable for the farm while still offering you bulk savings and superior nutrition.
🧮 Example:
- You buy 1/2 cow at $6.00/lb hanging weight
- The hanging weight is 300 lbs → Total: $1,800
- You take home ~200 lbs of packaged meat → That’s $9.00/lb for premium cuts (steaks, roasts, ground, bones, etc.)
That’s a steal compared to grocery store prices — and you know exactly where it came from.