Start Date
10-30-2012 11:00 AM
Description
Beef production and marketing has been shifting over the last few decades in response to unstable cattle markets, higher input costs, and a need to better meet market demands. Advancement of vertical integration of the production and marketing of beef calves through retained ownership from suckling calf to feedyard has certainly enhanced the genetics of the U.S. beef herd and improved the consistency of beef products. Another shift in production has been an increased number of grassfed cattle (grass finished) for marketing either organic or locally grown beef. These niche markets have developed primarily from concerns of urban consumers regarding the healthiness of beef with high-fat content and potential environmental hazards with large-scale feedyard finishing. Organic and locally grown grassfed beef remains small (< 1% of the U.S. beef calf crop), but may increase as corn and fuel prices rise.
Included in
Grassfed Beef from a Global Perspective
Beef production and marketing has been shifting over the last few decades in response to unstable cattle markets, higher input costs, and a need to better meet market demands. Advancement of vertical integration of the production and marketing of beef calves through retained ownership from suckling calf to feedyard has certainly enhanced the genetics of the U.S. beef herd and improved the consistency of beef products. Another shift in production has been an increased number of grassfed cattle (grass finished) for marketing either organic or locally grown beef. These niche markets have developed primarily from concerns of urban consumers regarding the healthiness of beef with high-fat content and potential environmental hazards with large-scale feedyard finishing. Organic and locally grown grassfed beef remains small (< 1% of the U.S. beef calf crop), but may increase as corn and fuel prices rise.