Would be curious to know what kind of feed the cows we're getting. The cows on my uncle's dairy farm always look so damn emaciated, just skin, bones and udder

Amazing what selective breeding will do.

The sprouts by me has had feed for about $20/lbs and "regular" for $13/lbs. The grass fed is never as good. Not enough fat, not as tender, and funky flavor.

Now wagyu isn't an option (unless I make the drive to a bigger HEB) but I don't see how they could be even close in flavor

Icecream_Ag said:

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The sprouts by me has had feed for about $20/lbs and "regular" for $13/lbs. The grass fed is never as good. Not enough fat, not as tender, and funky flavor.

Now wagyu isn't an option (unless I make the drive to a bigger HEB) but I don't see how they could be even close in flavor

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Problem with "grass fed" is that there are so many variables - namely, what type of grass was being consumed. Grass in Wyoming ain't the same as what's being eaten in the Carolinas.

I was raised on a dairy and we had a Holstein and Jersey mixed herd. We were fixing fence on the trap where we kept the heifer calves we were raising as future milkers and one of the Holsteins was pushing her head through the fence to get to the "greener grass" on the other side. My brother flipped a claw hammer at her to run her off, hit her behind the top knot and killed her dead. We strung her up and butchered her. Leanest beef in the world ..and the toughest. Wasn't fit to eat.

I watched the video but it's still hard for me to believe that an old dairy cow would have that much marbling.

Icecream_Ag said:

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The sprouts by me has had feed for about $20/lbs and "regular" for $13/lbs. The grass fed is never as good. Not enough fat, not as tender, and funky flavor.

Now wagyu isn't an option (unless I make the drive to a bigger HEB) but I don't see how they could be even close in flavor

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I think it depends what you grow up with. In other countries, grass fed is the norm, and corn fed is the "other" option. Friends of mine from Canada and Europe can't stand corn fed beef because they think it tastes funky.

Agreed about the perspectives on what tases funky. Grass fed is the way people have done beef through most of history. Just because it's not the norm here for various reasons (cost, homogeneity, flavor) doesn't mean it's wrong. People get unnecessarily militant on both sides.

I didn't eat beef for 20 years or more.

I like the grass fed steak from the Farmer's Market more than the stuff from the grocery store.

It has a more defined taste that I enjoy.

Rattler12 said:

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I was raised on a dairy and we had a Holstein and Jersey mixed herd. We were fixing fence on the trap where we kept the heifer calves we were raising as future milkers and one of the Holsteins was pushing her head through the fence to get to the "greener grass" on the other side. My brother flipped a claw hammer at her to run her off, hit her behind the top knot and killed her dead. We strung her up and butchered her. Leanest beef in the world ..and the toughest. Wasn't fit to eat.

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Not surprising. Jersey and Holstein don't make good eating really even if grain fed. There are some grass fed tender good eating beef cattle but need right conditions and type of grass. The grass fed movement at places like whole foods is pure marketing for city slickers. I only eat grass fed if I butchered the steer directly and knew it's full dietary history.

If they're actively milking, they are going to look that way. Lactation is one of the most demanding physiological processes an animal goes through and dairy cattle are bred to do that to the max.

They are in a state of negative energy balance for most of the year. It doesn't mean they're mistreated, it's just how they appear. Consider the difference in appearance between a healthy English bulldog and a healthy Great Dane.

I didn't watch the video, but if they are 'retired' they can put on body condition similar to other breeds with the same feed.

John Francis Donaghy said:

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Icecream_Ag said:

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The sprouts by me has had feed for about $20/lbs and "regular" for $13/lbs. The grass fed is never as good. Not enough fat, not as tender, and funky flavor.

Now wagyu isn't an option (unless I make the drive to a bigger HEB) but I don't see how they could be even close in flavor

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I think it depends what you grow up with. In other countries, grass fed is the norm, and corn fed is the "other" option. Friends of mine from Canada and Europe can't stand corn fed beef because they think it tastes funky.

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Most beef from Canada is finished on grain. The major difference there is wether the grain is corn or barley.