5 Year old Heifer Beef

[Broomcroft]

Hi

I have a heifer coming up to five years of age. Never had a calf. She is a stocky non-short, a bit fat now, and she is due to be culled. But I'm thinking of beefing her for our own consumption instead.

What will the beef be like?

[sid]

Just to refresh my memory what is the oldest age an animal can enter the human food chain. The person who buys my meat for Farmers Market sales swears that the older the animal the better, he would only take animals at 30 months regardless if they we fit any earlier. As the animal has been through 4 winters you might struggle to do that to many animals?

[Broomcroft]

As far as I am aware there is no restriction other than animals born 1996 and before. I have just sent an 8 year old bull for sausages and pies, and another at about 36 months. But over 30 months can only be processed by certain abattoirs and even though this has been raised to 48 months, still those that are between 30 and 48 months are for certain abattoirs only. I may be out of date and things have moved on but that's as it was when I last enquired. Maybe someone else knows?



Edited By Broomcroft on 1254642605

[Saffy]

Sounds right to me Clive and I think your heifer will be Ok but probably not as good as maybe at 3 years but you never know until you try it, it may even be better and have more flavour - yum!

Now the ideal thing to do is to invite me over for a proper tasting and then I will give you a verdict.

Stephanie :;):

[domsmith]

Cows born before aug 1996 may not enter the food chain.
cattle over 30 months can be killed at approved abattoirs but must be boned at a licensed cutting plant.
cattle over 48 months can again be killed at an approved abattoir, but must be bse tested and can only be cut at an approved cutting plant.

i think the older they are flavour must improve, tenderness may suffer and fat cover is bound to increase.
i am sure as many people will love it as hate it.
i think i would like it!!!

dom