beefitswhatsfordinner

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Everything but the ‘MOO’ is used with cattle!

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Daily Ag Fact: 6/12/16

The average dairy cow weighs 1,500 pounds and the average weight of a newborn calf is 90 pounds.

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LOUDER FOR PEOPLE IN THE BACK

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Fun cattle fact.

Scrotum circumference is one of the many EPDs (estimated progeny difference) used by the National Black Angus Association to predict traits.

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ColoradoQueen killing it with all the beef industry information lately. Love to see all these agvocates out there spreading the word about what we do and why it's important!

Hello! 60% of global farmland is used to raise beef, however only 5% of the worlds protein intake is beef. It requires 15000 liters of water to produce 2 kilograms of beef for consumption. I'm just a little confused as to why you advocate beef farming. It's totally understandable if you've never heard this info before, it's just that the world is really hurting to feed its population right now, and running out of usable water at an alarming rate. Beef just takes up more resources than its worth.

First and foremost, I support the beef industry because I was lucky enough to be born into an operation that is at the very heart of the industry and where it all begins. I’ve seen the miracle of life and all the way to death where the animal is then processed and further utilized in every products we use.

The land on which my calves are born and cattle graze is not suitable for farmland because I live in a high altitude climate with hard soils and low humidity which is not ideal for growing grain commodities. Therefore, the buffalo grass and prairie hay is converted into a high quality protein source.

The United States is the world leader in beef production because of careful selective breeding that has developed an animal that is continually producing more protein with less and less inputs such as the land you speak of. Majority of the commodity produced in the United States is exported to countries that cannot sustain feeding large ruminants such as China, Argentina, and Uruguay as the top three.

In regards to water usage, both crop farmers and cattle ranchers use diligent water management of the water table and adhere to regulations set by the EPA as well as USDA whether it is irritated or dry land. In agriculture, all of us at some point pray for rain because without precipitation neither corn nor calves would grow. We know the worth of water and sure as hell don’t take it for granted.

I encourage you to research reputable sources such as the USDA, National Cattleman’s Beef Association, Cattle Today and AgDay. Better yet, I highly advocate visiting a farm or ranch in person to see with your own two eyes and decide for yourself with your very own brain rather than be just another sheep willingly jumping off the cliff (no pun intended).

Whether it is a small scale swine farmer, the dairyman with a milking parlor that fits 18 head, or the King Ranch in Texas that developed the original Santa Gertrudis cattle breed, we all strive for the same goal: sustainable agriculture.

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Hello, just wondering what happens to beef cows after they are looked after at a ranch?

Primarily steers but also cows are raised to about 600 pounds then taken to a livestock exchange building. From there either a backgrounding yard operator will buy them and put on another 400-500 pounds or a feedyard will condition them to a finished weight of ideally 1400 pounds.

At that weight they are taken to a processing plant where the carcass is graded. It is then cut into halves and quarters and eighths and essentially is sold to companies that further cut the carcass into ribeyes, New York strips, T-bones, full and half racks of ribs, briskets, sausage, hamburger, and the like. Utility grade meat is made into dog and cat food. Tallow is used as wax in candles, crayons, soap, and as an ingredient in animal food. Bones that are not included with meat cuts are used as dog food and also ground into bone meal used as a high calcium supplement for swine.

The organs are harvested for food such as the kidneys, liver, heart, and tongue. Tongue, liver, omasum, and heart is often exported to Mexico and Japan where it brings a premium as it is considered a delicacy. Hooves are used as dog treats and collagen is separated to be used in lotions and cosmetics as well as oleo oil and gelatin is also taken. Oil is also used in rubbers and plastics such as on the soles of your shoes and grocery bags. The blood is collected in a huge tank and sold to pharmaceutical companies. The only organ not utilized is the brain due to the possibility of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy.

Leather is tanned on site; if a hide was branded it is lower quality and exported to other countries to make shoes. If not branded, it is sold domestically for belts, wallets, vehicle interior, horse tack, purses, and jackets to name a few.

No part is wasted so there is truly no such thing as vegan because if you drive or wear shoes or buy plastic water bottles there is an animal byproduct in all of those and more.

The highest quality of care is put into these animals because it is contradictory to mistreat an animal that is worth over $3/cwt or $1200/he depending on the time of year and influx of cattle on the market. The profession of a livestock producer is one in which we all take humble pride and conduct business in the best ways we know.

Knowledge is handed down through tradition and teaching from our prior generations, learned from trial and error, and even a young entrepreneur gaining knowledge with a goal to have land and cattle of their own.

Eat beef. The west wasn’t won on salad.

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A cool article on the different types of packaging ground beef comes in.

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The New York Steak has a tight texture with a definite grain meaning New York is moderately tender, but still has a bit of a chew. Good marbling and a strong beefy flavor. bar10beef.com

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What do you mean by "pro agriculture" in your description?

I mean that I support farmers, ranchers and agriculture workers and supporters throughout the world. I support the knowledge of agriculture being rightly and correctly taught in school systems, media and any other forms of learning and passing of information. 

I am for the farmer who has lost his crops in a storm. I am for the farmer who produces GMO, organic, and non-GMO crops. I am for the farmer who gets up before the sun rises and goes to bed after the sun has set. I am for the big farmer and the little farmer. 

I am for the rancher who just helped a first calf heifer bring her wobbly new calf into the world during a blizzard. I am for the rancher who had to put down his best cow due to illness or an injury. I am for the rancher who works just as hard and harder than any other person to ensure the safety and health of his animals.

I am for the feedlot owner and the feedlot cowboys/girls. I am for waking up early to feed the cattle, no matter the weather. I am for standing strong when the cattle market takes a hit and you know your income will take a blow. I am for getting in new cattle, excited to see what the buyer has brought you to care for. I am for getting discouraged when you try your absolute damnedest to bring back an ill steer to good health only to lose it overnight. 

I support those who help make the world go round; if it weren’t for them, we would be naked and hungry. I support those who help in the agriculture industry, even the government workers who can make a farmer or rancher’s life hell or a breeze with their paperwork and programs. I am for the locally owned grocery stores who help sell the agriculturalists’ products. 

I am pro agriculture.

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While there are different ways of identifying animals, this is an explanation of one of the ways cattle are identified.

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It’s a great day to pregnancy test the cows! We do this every year after we pull the Bulls. Those that aren’t bred back will either go to town to be sold, or will go on feed to be eaten. Current temp, 8F. #winter #hifromsd #thesouthdakotacowgirl #theviewfromhere #thedxranch #ranchlife #snow #winter #love #landscape (at The DX Ranch)

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#country of origin label #meat myths #beef blog #beef #cattle