How to Read Beef Pricing for Wholesale Buyers
Beef pricing can feel like a moving target for restaurants, butchers, and retailers buying meat at scale. From the initial live weight of a cow to the final boxed weight that arrives ready to cook, each stage in the process adds costs and influences your true price per pound. In this guide, you will learn how live weight, hanging weight, and boxed weight work, why yields matter, how USDA grades affect value, and what real wholesale numbers look like in today’s market. Whether you are sourcing brisket, ribeye, or ground beef, understanding these pricing mechanics will help you control costs, negotiate smarter, and protect your margins with confidence.