breed eating quality...ideas please

[Susie David]

Some friends Susie and I were discussing the best breed of cattle for meat eating quality, taste and flavor. Susie being partial to the Angus while I like a nice 24+ month Hereford.
Galloways were highly talked about and one gal said that the Highland was the best...I thought that they were pasture ornaments...anyway, we would like to get some feed back as to the breed, age, finishing and processing that produces the best eating experience.
Dave

 

[Frankie]

Taste varies with the individual. Personally, I prefer higher quality grade, corn fed, aged beef. I buy CAB when I can get it and just won't buy anything less than Choice. Choice beef is from cattle less than two years old, so that makes your 24-month old Hereford borderline for me.

There's some MARC data that says Jersey is some of the best eating beef. It's tender, marbled and has a good, beefy flavor.

 

[greenwillowherefords]

Taste varies with the individual. Personally, I prefer higher quality grade, corn fed, aged beef. I buy CAB when I can get it and just won't buy anything less than Choice. Choice beef is from cattle less than two years old, so that makes your 24-month old Hereford borderline for me.

There's some MARC data that says Jersey is some of the best eating beef. It's tender, marbled and has a good, beefy flavor.

I've heard this too. I even know a Limi breeder that bought a Jersey steer to butcher.

My top two choices for consistent meat quality would be Herefords and Angus of either color.

I respectfully suggest that if you never get a chance to eat some home raised beef, you are missing out.

 

[MikeC]

Taste varies with the individual. Personally, I prefer higher quality grade, corn fed, aged beef. I buy CAB when I can get it and just won't buy anything less than Choice. Choice beef is from cattle less than two years old, so that makes your 24-month old Hereford borderline for me.

There's some MARC data that says Jersey is some of the best eating beef. It's tender, marbled and has a good, beefy flavor.

Frankie, Physiological age is determined when grading beef - not chronological age. Maturity "A" is the youngest classification in the USDA Grading system. It could be anywhere from 9 to 30 months. You could be eating 30 month old beef with CAB.
It could also be Prime, Choice, or Select at that age.
Also, if you buy retail beef you most likely aren't getting aged beef. The logistics of moving beef long distances now pretty much leaves aging out.
I have fed out Jerseys, WOW! The only cattle that are better are Wagyu's!

 

[Rookie]

Well Susie, here be my 2 cent worth. It be not so much in the breed as it be in the feed. When it comes down to it, I've had me grain fed Holstein be just as good as any Angus I raised. I know there be folk ta disagree with me but that be my angle on it. Good luck................george

 

[Frankie]

Frankie, Physiological age is determined when grading beef - not chronological age. Maturity "A" is the youngest classification in the USDA Grading system. It could be anywhere from 9 to 30 months. You could be eating 30 month old beef with CAB.
It could also be Prime, Choice, or Select at that age.

You're right, of course, about the age. Thanks for the correction.

Also, if you buy retail beef you most likely aren't getting aged beef. The logistics of moving beef long distances now pretty much leaves aging out.

I buy CAB most often at retail markets and it's not aged. But there's a wholesaler in Oklahoma City that will sell aged CAB directly to consumers. If I get my ducks in order and call the day before we go up there, we can pick up aged CAB ribeyes. We usually get a CAB rib roast for the family for Christmas from them. Sometimes internet markets will have free shipping on aged CAB, too. It's not cheap, but I'm pretty picky about the beef on my plate.

 

[Farmhand]

I agree with Rookie. Have butchered Charlais, Angus, Holstein, Hereford, and a few others since my herd is a mixture. All fed out the same. All butchered under 2 yrs of age. All very tasty.

 

[Bama]

All cows are the same color on the inside. Some do marble faster than others. Some make better cuts of meat, some make better milkers. But they all moo, eat grass, and make babies. To me the taste comes from what they were fed tha last couple of months. I just eat some from a old ugly cow. She was feed strait corn for 2 months. Was only givin room to stand up and lay down. She couldn't even turn around. I have never done this but the guy said you have got to try some of this meat. I'll have to admit it was some of the best I have eaten. I would never have thought it if I had just looked at the cow.

 

[msscamp]

Was only givin room to stand up and lay down. She couldn't even turn around. I have never done this but the guy said you have got to try some of this meat.

As far as I'm concerned, that's inhumane and cruel. I refuse to buy or eat veal for that very reason.

 

[Australian Cattleman]

Our slogan is "South Devon Two Words For Beef"
It is the best. We are going to kill soon a Galloway,Simmental,so I'll let you know how good it is.
Colin

 

[Bama]

Was only givin room to stand up and lay down. She couldn't even turn around. I have never done this but the guy said you have got to try some of this meat.

As far as I'm concerned, that's inhumane and cruel. I refuse to buy or eat veal for that very reason.

I was at a barn in ( I better not name the place, I'll just say closer to you than me ) Anyway there were a few hundred that was being conditioned this way. There was running water in a trough, and grain on a belt. There was a conveyor in the back to remove waste. They were on free choice grain and no hay. I ain't sure how long they stayed there.