I've had beef in Hawaii and you are probably right for your area, the meat lacked flavor and tenderness. We have bought calves at the local fair for the last 9 years, from kids we knew, you cannot buy beef that taste that good from a chain store, (Costco's beef is the closest, but still not as good) there are a few butcher shops that have meat that is as good but they charge double what Costco does, I will not pay $20 a pound for a ribeye.
Between the my 2 boys' calves over the year, 3 went to the state plant to be processed before they were sent to the local butcher for cutting, 2 came back USDA Prime, the other was high choice, calves were Angus based club calves. We start the fair calves on feed in October at 500-600 pounds, our fair is first part of July, calves are fed 3% of body weight almost the entire time, once they start eating 25 pounds a day we stop increasing the feed and tweak it to get finish on them. There rest of the calves have been processed locally, the butcher has always commented on the quality of meat (Same buyer every year, same butcher)
Holstein to Angus, feed it right and it will produce beef that is enjoyable to eat, feed it wrong or not at all and it will not have flavor or be enjoyable to eat.
Between the my 2 boys' calves over the year, 3 went to the state plant to be processed before they were sent to the local butcher for cutting, 2 came back USDA Prime, the other was high choice, calves were Angus based club calves. We start the fair calves on feed in October at 500-600 pounds, our fair is first part of July, calves are fed 3% of body weight almost the entire time, once they start eating 25 pounds a day we stop increasing the feed and tweak it to get finish on them. There rest of the calves have been processed locally, the butcher has always commented on the quality of meat (Same buyer every year, same butcher)
Holstein to Angus, feed it right and it will produce beef that is enjoyable to eat, feed it wrong or not at all and it will not have flavor or be enjoyable to eat.