Hanging Weight is a weight the butcher gives us after the animal has been killed, blood drained, head, hide, feet, entrails & organs removed. The hanging weight is usually about 60% of the live weight. So if a cow weighs 1000 lbs live weight its hanging weight will be 600 lbs. A half share would be 300 lbs, a quarter would be 150 lbs and an eighth would be 75 lbs (approximately). This is also the weight the butcher uses to charge us for cutting/wrapping fees. The hanging weight is the most consistent way to measure the carcass before getting into customizing the cuts.