How big is a share of a cow?

Our CowShares are designed for individuals to large families. Click here for details.

What cuts are included in an Eighth CowShare?

The Eighth CowShare is recommended for smaller families with 1 - 2 adults and 0 - 2 younger kids. Click here for details.

What cuts are included in a Quarter PigShare?

The Quarter PigShare is recommended for smaller families with 1 - 2 adults and 0 - 2 younger kids. Click here for details.

How can I split an Eighth CowShare with a friend?

If you are going to share an Eighth CowShare with a friend, we've found two models that seem to work well.

The Sampler: a little bit of everything

The Great Steak Divide: the Rib or Loin

What cuts are included in a Quarter CowShare?

The Quarter CowShare is recommended for larger families with 1 - 2 adults and 1 - 3 older kids. Click here for details.

How does custom cutting work?

For customers who buy a whole or half CowShare, we can customize the package for you. We have a questionnaire to fill out that helps us understand your preferences and cooking styles. We create a butcher order for you and deliver the beef to your door. Some questions to think about include:

• Do you prefer to cook roasts or steaks?
  • More Roasts
  • About 50/50
  • More Steaks
• Do you like the bone included in your steaks?
  • Yes
  • No
• Would you like us to make hamburger patties for you?
  • 4 oz.
  • 6 oz.
  • No Thank You

You may also want to see the selection of cuts available for custom orders. We can also do primal cuts if desired.

How is the beef packaged?

The beef is delivered to your home packed in cardboard boxes. Each cut is individually sealed and frozen. Each package is USDA-certified by the butcher and labeled with the name of the cut and an identification number for the cow.

How do I store the beef?

The beef should be stored in a freezer until you are ready to use it. You can store beef for up to 12 months in a deep freezer. An Eighth CowShare will take up about 75% of the space in a standard freezer. For larger shares, we recommended using a small deep freezer. A Half CowShare takes up approximately 5 cu. ft. of freezer space.

Where do we get our cows?

We buy cattle in Central and Eastern Pennsylvania as well as our neighboring states of Deleware, New York and Central and Southern New Jersey. Click here to meet our farmers.

What standards do you use for selecting the farms?

Download our grass-fed beef production protocol.

How do I order a share of a cow?

1. Determine if you are located within our delivery area.
2. Figure out which CowShare bundle is best for your family.
3. Do you want to buy individually or organize a group?
4. Order online
5. We deliver the beef to you.

Our deliveries are during business hours Monday - Friday. If you are not available, you can leave a cooler in a secure location and we'll unpack the beef for you.

How long does it take to get my CowShare after I order?

Philadelphia CowShare sends cows to the butcher every month. It takes approximately 4–5 weeks to process a cow and deliver it to you. This time includes the 14 days the beef is dry-aged to intensify the flavor and tenderize the meat. If we happen to have inventory in stock, we can process your order faster.

Although we'd like to be able to deliver your internet order in 2 business days like many online retailers, we are a young company and are dealing with live animals. When you place your order, we find a cow that is ready for market, have it processed, and deliver it to you. Some things, like growing cows on grass in the pasture, just take time.

What is dry-aged beef?

Dry-aged beef is beef that has been hung in a cool, clean, climate-controlled environment for a period of time. Dry-aging beef intensifies the flavor and tenderizes the beef. Enzymes break down the muscle and connective tissue in the beef and make it more tender and flavorful. All our beef is dry-aged for at least 14 days.

Why is dry-aged beef more expensive?

Dry-aged beef is more expensive than wet-aged or non-aged beef for three reasons. First, a meat processor must have an environment suitable for dry aging. Second, the process simply takes longer. Finally, the meat loses moisture or weight during the process. Our beef can lose 10% of the weight over 2 weeks.

Beef that is wet-aged is vacuum-sealed in plastic and typically aged during transit. Because it is aged in its own juices, more moisture is absorbed by the beef resulting in less weight loss. When you buy beef by the pound, you are paying for the moisture that was retained in the beef during the wet-aging process. With dry-aged beef, you are paying for a more intense flavor of beef and less liquid. Most beef sold in supermarkets is wet-aged or not aged at all.

How does delivery work for groups?

For people who order shares as a group, the whole order is delivered to one delivery address. We send the 2 hour time window to all the members of the group. Then our driver calls the group organizer when he's on the way to the delivery address so that the group organizer can alert the members of the group.

What if I cannot be home during the 2 hour time window?

Philly CowShare can put your meat into a fridge or cooler. We recommend a cooler that is 60 qt or larger for Eighth CowShares, 120 qt or larger for Quarter CowShares and 50 qt or larger for Quarter PigShares. We don't recommend this option for Half or Whole CowShares. You need to sign our delivery authorization giving us permission to leave your meat in a secure location. Please include any special instructions (e.g. cooler is on back porch, garage door instructions).

How do I ask a question?

For more information, send email to [email protected].

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