Instructions

1. Build a fire pit in the location you will be roasting the cow. For details on how to build a fire pit see the eHow article titled "How to Build a Fire Pit."

2. Secure the arms of the spit on either side of the fire pit. Make sure they are the right width to hold the spit.

3. Build a fire in the fire pit. To be successful at roasting the cow you need a well-built fire. Charcoal is the best fuel to use.

4. Let the charcoal burn until the coals are glowing red. At this point the coals will be right around 350 F, which will cook the meat to the right temperature.

5. Cut the cow into manageable pieces and place the pieces on the spit. Each piece should be in the 25- to 55-pound range.

6. Place the pieces of meat on the rod of the spit. The rod should be placed through the meat as close to the center as possible to ensure even cooking.

7. Position the spit with the meat on the arms you secured earlier. This should put the meat about 6 to 8 inches above the fire.

8. Cook the meat until its internal temperature is at least 140 F. The bigger the piece the longer it is going to take to cook. This ranges from 4 hours for a 25-pound piece up to seven hours for a 55-pound piece.