Beef, grain fed vs grass fed

[VOON 1,317]

50 minutes ago, Lenmcharristar said:

Was it a good or bad experience?

Always good and bad….just gotta take them both…..

[WILF 48,373]

32 minutes ago, Lenmcharristar said:

Hows the taste of the animal? Haveyou tried any other type of rearing wilf?

I only rear mine to Veal mate but I know there’s a place in France who’s name escapes me that sells what is widely regarded as some of the best beef you can buy and they won’t kill that animal any earlier than 4 years old and preferably older.

If I fed any top up feed to any of my animals I only feed rolled oats which is most likely also GM but hey, organic is 3 times the price so it’s a trade off but I don’t use much.

That will put fat on animals like you don’t believe but other than that, all grass for cattle, sheep and pigs and they all taste amazing. 

[Lenmcharristar 10,013]

14 minutes ago, WILF said:

I only rear mine to Veal mate but I know there’s a place in France who’s name escapes me that sells what is widely regarded as some of the best beef you can buy and they won’t kill that animal any earlier than 4 years old and preferably older.

If I fed any top up feed to any of my animals I only feed rolled oats which is most likely also GM but hey, organic is 3 times the price so it’s a trade off but I don’t use much.

That will put fat on animals like you don’t believe but other than that, all grass for cattle, sheep and pigs and they all taste amazing. 

Defo the proof in the eating

[WILF 48,373]

Just now, Lenmcharristar said:

Defo the proof in the eating

I’m a big believer in the fats the flavour mate…..but there’s also more to it than that imho.

I could tell you my pork from a shop bought bit of pork no problem at all, mine would be darker, have a decent layer of fat and when cooked it wouldn’t be in the least bit dry.

Same for sheep, a 4 year old sheep just fed grass will taste better than any factory lamb…..guaranteed.

As I say I can’t speak for beef because I have not reared to beef age but this shit we buy in the shops is hideous. 
 

Getting fed a bag a day of south American soya to get them upto weight by 30 months the latest…..not for me pal 

[vfr400boy 3,532]

8 hours ago, Lenmcharristar said:

Outstanding mate, hows the taste

Its spot on 

They are on organic feilds with different grasses herbs and weeds we do feed a tiny bit of cake just to keep them tame and kids love to feed um 

[DIDO.1 22,851]

They say salt Marsh lamb has a distinct flavour, never tried it myself 

[Gypsydog94 4,630]

5 minutes ago, DIDO.1 said:

They say salt Marsh lamb has a distinct flavour, never tried it myself 

My mate get pays a premium for his that graze along the estuary bank

[Lenmcharristar 10,013]

14 minutes ago, DIDO.1 said:

They say salt Marsh lamb has a distinct flavour, never tried it myself 

Id love to try it too, anybody else ever eat it? Is there noticeable difference?

[Arry 23,275]

imo it's about finishing the stock off properly which you don't see much of these day. Years ago local Butchers had a couple of small fields they would buy bullocks and finish them off putting the layers on. It also used to be proper beef cattle not the mix of bits and pieces you seem to see in fields today. Was on a farm last year and said to the farm "christ John you got them bullocks looking nice" ( South Devons). We had a long conversation about finishing off and he's right most don't seem to bother. As for grass or grain imo it's grass then grain to finish them off.

Cheers Arry

[Lenmcharristar 10,013]

1 minute ago, Arry said:

imo it's about finishing the stock off properly which you don't see much of these day. Years ago local Butchers had a couple of small fields they would buy bullocks and finish them off putting the layers on. It also used to be proper beef cattle not the mix of bits and pieces you seem to see in fields today. Was on a farm last year and said to the farm "christ John you got them bullocks looking nice" ( South Devons). We had a long conversation about finishing off and he's right most don't seem to bother. As for grass or grain imo it's grass then grain to finish them off.

Cheers Arry

Theres an education, 

[Lenmcharristar 10,013]

Any particular breed of cow thats produces the best eating beef?

[Arry 23,275]

4 minutes ago, Lenmcharristar said:

Any particular breed of cow thats produces the best eating beef?

Aberdeen Angus, Ruby Red, South Devon and Long Horn is a few can think of mate.

Cheers Arry

[DIDO.1 22,851]

Just googled salt Marsh lamb. There's a farm quite near us so I'll go and get a leg soon and report back. 

 

[WILF 48,373]

18 minutes ago, Arry said:

imo it's about finishing the stock off properly which you don't see much of these day. Years ago local Butchers had a couple of small fields they would buy bullocks and finish them off putting the layers on. It also used to be proper beef cattle not the mix of bits and pieces you seem to see in fields today. Was on a farm last year and said to the farm "christ John you got them bullocks looking nice" ( South Devons). We had a long conversation about finishing off and he's right most don't seem to bother. As for grass or grain imo it's grass then grain to finish them off.

Cheers Arry

It don’t help that over here at least, most farmers don’t know how much they are getting for their beast until after it’s dead in the factory ! 
That’s a mental situation.

The last beef cattle I kept (which I sold instead of killed) cost buttons to feed and they were in excellent order when I sold them, well fleshed and great condition. 

They cost me €2 per beast, per week to feed when they were housed over winter……every farmer I told that nearly fell down dead in the floor !

Unfortunately they don’t fit into the system even though they kill out better than almost any other breed.

Most farmers hard feed bill is eye watering ! 
Beef is treated very much like chicken imho, it’s a case of get it to size as quickly as possible, the taste of the end product isn’t even a consideration.

[Gypsydog94 4,630]

1 hour ago, Lenmcharristar said:

Any particular breed of cow thats produces the best eating beef?

Wagyu