old cow beef

[Hillside Ben]

Hi all, hope everyone is well.
Just a quick question, I'm going to cull some of our older girls out of the herd shortly. Just planning what's the best way out with them. We have a range of ages from 5 to 11 years old in the group I'm going to sell. Am I right to assume they're too old to go for beef, or could something be done with them?
Thanks in advance.
Ben

[Rob R]

Never too old - it just depends whether your abattoir can process them. Our local one can do cattle up to 48 months, and the next nearest up to 72 months, but we've beefed 10 year olds at a third one before now.

[Jac]

Our local abattoir takes them up to 72 months but there is an extra charge. I sent an older animal in when the Crossgar scheme was going but haven't beefed any myself that is not to say that I won't in the future for mince and burgers. Our 'old faithfuls' that have given us good service are put down at home.

[Hillside Ben]

Ah interesting. I had a perception that the beef would be tough as old boots if they were older. I'll give them a call then and see what they say at the abattoir.

[Rob R]

The only reason for it to be tough would be if you were to cook it wrong. The 10 yr old sirloin was one of the most tender cuts I've ever had.

[Louisa Gidney]

I've eaten beef from 14-18 year old cows in the past. Most memorable was a blue Chateaubriand steak from a 14 year old that just melted in the mouth.
Finishing old cows is crucial. I've written at length about this in Chapter 5 of my thesis.
If it's a plain cow, then putting the whole lot through the mincer for burgers works well too.

[Tim Watson]

We sent a 16yr old bull up the hill and have had the best burgers and sausages we have ever had. They are in high demand. He was very lean and some fat needed adding but otherwise superb.

[ann]

just wondered why you would consider a 5yr old, as old, milk wise they are coming into their max milk production and i have 12yr old cows producing some cracking calves.

[Hillside Ben]

Well we are dealing with some health issues and I think it would be wrong to sell them on, on that basis, so I have been looking at other options with them. It is not to do with age it just happens that the girls who've come back with it are this age. I have a limit in the amount I can keep because of land availability, so will have to sell some others anyway, but I only want to sell healthy animals on. We'll probably keep our oldest cow as she is in my opinion one of the best in our group. But to improve the herd as a whole, I will always have to sell some.