How Beef Is Processed, The Benefits Of Eating Beef, & More!

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When you think of beef you think of mouth-watering, savory meat. Meat that’s on your burgers, in your soup, the steak you ordered, etc. Granted these gracious mammals are delicious to eat, but there is more to know about beef than just its taste. Such as how its produced, and the benefits of intaking such meat. There is a lot more to cows than meats the eye! Let’s dive in on how interesting beef can be.

How is beef produced? Beef production have specific breeds that they use for meat production. There are four specific beef cattle in total: Black Angus, Herefordshire, Piedmontese, and Waguyu. They are the best for Beef production, and have shown the best reviews in local stores. Once the cattle reach the proper size and weight, workers trained in humane care slaughter them for the next meal. Beef is produced in eight crucial steps: cattle breeding, ranching, auction markets, cattle feeders, beef processing, retail, export, and food service.

Cattle breeding: This is the first step in the beef production chain, and can take place naturally or through artificial insemination. Cattle breeders work to raise cattle with specific and superior genetics that can be sold to cow-calf ranchers. Although, it depends on which state of how many breeders in that area are registered. Ranching: Cow-calf producers keep a herd of cows that are bred annually to produce a crop of calves. These cow-calf pairs are raised on pasture. 

Auction Markets: Auction markets is where cattle are bought and sold. There are many different types of sales. Some of these sales are cow-calf pairs that can be purchased by ranchers. Feeder calves that are ready for finishing, are usually bought by cattle feeders. Fun Fact: Cattle are also purchased at auction by beef processors. Who would’ve known that there are actual professors in the study of beef! Cattle Feeders: Cattle feeders typically purchase feeder calves anywhere from 600-900 pounds. These cattle enter a feeding operation where they are fed a high-ration of forage and grain. For instance: barley, wheat, or corn. Cattle can spend anywhere from 60-220 days at a feeding operation until they reach market weight of 1,400-1,500 lbs.

Very nummy stake! (*✧×✧*)

Beef Processing: The meat-packing industry handles the processing of cattle and the harvesting of beef. This industry also does the packaging and distribution of beef products. Retail: The beef result is sold by packers to the final consumer, through grocery stores and other retail outlets. Export: Fun Fact: Canadian beef approx. 39% goes to export markets. For example, the US, Asia, and Europe. Food Service: This includes any business, institution, or company that prepares meals outside the home for resale (this includes restaurants too). All of these “sectors” in the beef value chain, are supported by a variety of industry associations and organizations. Which help look out for the interests of their members, and collaborate to grow and strengthen the beef industry.

What are the Benefits of eating beef? There are many healthy benefits with eating beef, but I’ve noticed quite a few, that I think are the most important to focus on. The six healthy benefits of eating beef are: beef is high in protein (which helps build muscle mass), beef is extremely rich in minerals, beef helps prevent iron deficiency anemia, beef contains carnosine, beef is full of vitamins, beef contains natural creatine, and beef is very affordable.

(1) High in protein: Eating protein every day is very important, the human body needs it. Proteins supply the building blocks out bodies need, also known as amino acids, that help us repair and build muscle, bone, skin, hair, cartilage, etc. Daily protein also helps our bodies main our lean body mass, also known as muscle mass. Out of all the nutrients, proteins are very satiating and help make us feel satiated for a longer period of time, and prevent unnecessary void cravings.

(2) Extremely rich in minerals: Beef is very rich in minerals. Such as: potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and iron. According to fivestarhomefoods.com, a 6oz portion of beef will give you: 10% Copper, 18% Iron, 7% Magnesium, 40% Phosphorus, 10% Potassium, 50% Selenium, and 35% of Zinc. For certain people with mineral deficiencies, beef would be an excellent choice to consider to combat such deficiencies.

(3) Prevents iron deficiency anemia: One nutrient deficiency worth mentioning is Iron Deficiency Anemia IDA. Iron deficiency is a major public health issue in the U.S., according to Dr. Ian Griffin. Iron deficiency affects 10%, if not more of the population. (4) Contains carnosine: The advantage of eating beef is that it provides an abundance of carnosine. It provides around 50% more than other proteins like poultry. Carnosine is created by combining the amino acids alanine and histidine. It’s found throughout the body, and has several important roles in health. Notably in exercise performance, and muscle mass balance.

(5) Full of vitamins: In beef, there are many important nutrients. Some of those present in significant amounts, including the range of B vitamins, which are vital to energy metabolism. This is amount per 6oz of beef, (according to fivestarhomefoods.com): 6% Vitamin B1, 20% Vitamin B2, 45% Vitamin B3, 17% Vitamin B5, 42% Vitamin B6, and 125% Vitamin B12. (6) Contains natural creatine: Beef contains typically 350mg creatine per 100g. There are health benefits of creatine. These benefits are: improved exercise performance, assists in muscle growth and development, provides muscle with greater energy supply and improves endurance, and increases muscular size.

Top three meals with beef!

These three beef dinners, in my opinion, are the easiest to start with as a beginner cook: Burgers, Sloppy-Joes, and Steaks. I’ve made sloppy joes before, but I’ve never tried the homemade version. I’m very excited to try it! Some of the ingredients TheStayAtHomeChef uses are: onions, celery, garlic, and pepper flakes for a hot touch! Here is the video that is going to show me guidance with how to make Homemade Sloppy Joe’s, down below ↓😉

Sources:

https://www.gearpatrol.com/food/a68264/mob-knowing-beef-cattle-breeds/

https://cattlefeeders.ca/the-7-stages-of-beef-cattle-production/

https://www.fivestarhomefoods.com/blogs/healthy-benefits-of-eating-beef/

Lesson 4, Home Economics @zbelles