Van,
You are simply going have to slow down if we are going to get anywhere.
My question was:
If you can: Which class, grade, quality or what ever you want to call it, of beef AKA meat, has the highest demand on it today?
Do you see the word "BEEF"?
We raise cattle and sell beef.
Do you raise cattle and sell cattle or beef?
The BEEF we sell has no hide on it and the buyer is free to set his/her own requirements/specifications of that beef and breed or color of the hide of the animal plays no part in those requirements/specifications.
A good example of when the hide color does play a part and a list of their requirements/specifications that some buyers use.
Cattle that is at least 51% black and exhibit Angus-type characteristics are eligible for "Certified Angus Beef" evaluation. However, it must meet all eight of the following criteria to be labeled "Certified Angus Beef" by USDA Graders: [9]
• Modest or higher degree of marbling
• Medium or fine marbling texture
• "A" maturity
• Yield grade 3.9 or leaner
• Moderately thick or thicker muscling
• No hump on the neck exceeding 2 inches
• No evidence of internal hemorrhages
• No dark cutting characteristics
Other buyers are free to set their own criteria, and most do not include any hide color or spacific breed. All they are concerned with is the quntity and quality of the meet (AKA beef).
Now to answer your question: Which is the best beef?
A.The beef that has the highest demand on it, as it will produce the most dollars per pound.
Now if you ask me what breed is best to fill this demand you will first have to tell me what you perseive to be the demand in todays market place. And as all buyers are free to set their own criteria one can only take an educated guess as to demand.
Now here it comes.
IMO ( IN MY OPINION) the demand THAT PRODUCES THE BIGEST BUCKS are the top of the line cuts of meet. As long as the buyers other specifications (totally unrelated to USDA) criteria are meet.
Now as only 2% of the beef produced in the US is classified as USDA PRIME that is what is causing the demand from buyers who write their own clasification of prime as does CAB.
Now again: IMO ( IN MY OPINION) the cattle breed (s) that will most likely consistently (key word) produce the quanity and quality of beef (meat) that is in demand by buyers that will make the biggest bucks is a composite with the main influence being Black Angus, depending on the buyers specification, which are subject to change without notice and between buyers.
I recently read a website by a buyer of cattle and a seller of beef who claims all of their meat is choice plus. (note: it does not say USDA choice)
What does "choice plus" mean? Could it simply mean the "best beef"?
SL