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Anyone who thinks ranchers and feeders are the only ones who work long hours in the beef business has not talked with a foodservice distributor or thought about a chef burning the midnight oil.
Anyone who thinks beef quality only rides on the production sector’s shoulders has not toured a packing plant or learned about aging and cut shops.
There are real people at every link along the beef chain, working to add value, ensure safety and make sure the meat that starts on the farm or ranch gets sold at the price point consumers demand.
During a Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) tour of ranch country last fall, foodservice professionals made a stop at the Cargill Meat Solutions plant in Fort Morgan, Colo.
“After the ranch visits [the attendees] were bubbling over with excitement about the down-to-earth, passionate people they met—and when we got to the packing plant, we found the same type of people,” says Deanna Walenciak, CAB director of marketing and leader of that excursion. “That made such an impression.”
Cargill’s Nicole Johnson-Hoffman welcomed the group and even told them to give her employees a “thumbs up” as a way to let them know their work is appreciated.
“Seeing every step is so important so they truly understand what an amazing and efficient business the packing plant is. To see the overwhelming amount of skilled work it takes to get it from animal to meat,” Walenciak says.
Packers also have a great influence on the quality of the cattle that come into their plants, and the beef that goes out.
South Dakota rancher Rich Blair once complained to a packer-buyer, saying producers are never told what kind of animal packers want. “He said, ‘Yeah we have. We’ve laid our grids out there. We’ve told you what we wanted.’”
“And I thought, ‘Holy smokes, he did,’” Blair says. “He told me he didn’t care if they were blue or green, but he’ll pay me if they grade Choice and he’ll pay me if they’re CABs and Primes.”
Procurement strategies and price signals tell producers they want quality, but once the ranchers and feeders have set them up for success, it’s up to the packers to maintain that potential.
“You only get one chance to handle them right,” says Phil Bass, CAB meat scientist.
Animal handling when the cattle arrive—things like letting them rest and not comingling groups so they have to establish new pecking orders—can impact stress level. That ultimately makes a difference in the number of dark cutters and meat tenderness.
Charles Crispin is a spirited outdoorsman and ranch owner. This Facebook page offers updates about Crispin, and many useful articles about ranching, farming, and lifestyle.
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