Ordering & Payment
How do C5 beef shares work?
C5 Cattle Co. offers Quarter, Half, and Whole Beef shares. You reserve your share with a deposit, and C5 coordinates the processing details with you. After processing, the remaining balance is invoiced based on the final hanging weight and any applicable delivery or processing arrangements.
How much is the deposit?
The current reservation deposits are:
Quarter Beef — $250
Half Beef — $500
Whole Beef — $1,000
The deposit reserves your share and is applied toward your purchase.
Do I pay for the entire beef share when I order?
No. You pay the reservation deposit when you place your order. The remaining balance is determined after the animal is processed and the final hanging weight is known.
What is hanging weight?
Hanging weight is the weight of the beef after the animal has been harvested and the hide, head, internal organs, and other non-carcass portions have been removed, but before the meat is cut and packaged.
Because beef shares are sold using actual hanging weight, the final total can vary from animal to animal.
How long does the process take?
Buying a beef share is different from buying individual cuts at a grocery store. It is a ranch-to-table process that includes reserving your share, coordinating processing, harvest, cutting and packaging, and final pickup.
Timing can vary depending on cattle availability and processor scheduling. C5 will stay in contact with you as your order progresses.
What happens after I place my order?
After you reserve your share, C5 will contact you to confirm your order and walk you through the next steps.
That may include confirming your contact information, discussing processing arrangements, providing cut-sheet instructions, letting you know when the animal is scheduled, sending your final invoice after hanging weight is determined, and coordinating pickup.
Processing & Pickup
Can I choose how my beef is cut?
Yes. Processing preferences are handled through a cut sheet. C5 will coordinate processing information with you so you know when and how to provide your cut selections.
Your choices may include things such as steak thickness, roast sizes, ground beef packaging, and other available processing options.
Where will my beef be processed?
C5 coordinates processing with the processor used for your order. Because processing arrangements can vary, C5 will provide the specific processor and pickup information for your beef share.
How do I receive my beef?
Pickup is generally preferred. Once your beef is ready, C5 will provide the details you need regarding the processor, pickup location, and timing.
If special arrangements are available for your order, those can be discussed directly with C5.
Freezer & Quantity
How much beef will I actually take home?
Every animal is different, and the final amount depends on hanging weight, your cut selections, trimming, and processing.
As a general planning guide:
Quarter Beef — approximately 100–110 lb of packaged beef
Half Beef — approximately 200–220 lb
Whole Beef — approximately 400–440 lb
These are estimates rather than guaranteed final weights.
How much freezer space will I need?
A general rule of thumb is:
Quarter Beef — about 4–5 cu. ft.
Half Beef — about 7–8 cu. ft.
Whole Beef — about 15–17 cu. ft.
Freezer needs can vary depending on the cuts you choose, packaging, and how efficiently the freezer is organized.
About C5 Beef
How are C5 cattle raised?
C5 cattle are raised on open Texas pasture with a grass-focused diet and finished with a touch of grain to help enhance marbling, tenderness, and flavor.
C5 does not use feedlots, added hormones, or antibiotics in its beef program. The cattle are raised with hands-on care and close involvement from birth through harvest.
Is C5 beef grass-fed?
C5 cattle are raised primarily on pasture with a grass-focused diet, but they are not exclusively grass-finished. A touch of grain is used toward finishing to support marbling, tenderness, and flavor.
What breed of cattle does C5 raise for beef?
The C5 female herd is a Santa Gertrudis/Hereford cross and is bred to Angus bulls.
That produces calves that are approximately:
1/2 Angus
1/4 Hereford
1/4 Santa Gertrudis
The resulting beef is predominantly Angus while benefiting from the strengths of all three breeds.
Why does C5 use this cross?
Angus genetics are valued for marbling and eating quality, while Hereford and Santa Gertrudis cattle contribute traits such as hardiness, adaptability, and strong maternal ability.
It is a combination well suited to Texas ranching and to producing quality beef.
Can I buy individual cuts instead of a beef share?
At this time, the website is focused on Quarter, Half, and Whole Beef shares. If C5 later adds individual cuts or other purchasing options, those will be added to the site. Check back with us at a later date.
I still have questions. What should I do?
We’d be glad to help.
Visit the Contact page and send us a message. C5 typically responds within 1–2 business days and can answer questions about beef shares, processing, freezer space, pickup, or what to expect from the ranch-to-table process.
