Grass taste

trbizwiz · #21 02/28/11, 11:14 PM

I am reading "steak" right now. Neither grass nor corn alone ensures a perfect cut of beef. But either can provide an exceptional steak if properly done. Side note, I am a little over half done with the book and I believe the authors favorite steak so far was a scottish highland raised on rye and clover in Scotland. Second favorite was a corn fed beef of some local breed in Italy. Just FYI.

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Looking4ewes · #22 03/01/11, 06:43 AM

When reading this thread, I'm wondering if I need to be feeding some grain. I hope to finish one steer this summer for our own consumption, though a friend is interested in purchasing one half of it. The friend's wife is recovering from breast cancer, and I know they are interested in high CLAs, but I want the beef to taste good as well. I have never raised a steer before, so my experience is zero. The steer is half Angus/half Dutch-Belted. He will be 1 yo in April. What would be the best way to finish him?

Gabriel · #23 03/01/11, 08:26 AM

I think the important factor in tenderness is that they gain weight steadily throughout their life, at least 1.7 Lbs per day. As to taste, it's already been stated that that's highly subjective and who can disagree? Personally, I'd say the best beef I've ever had was strictly grass fed, but I've had some nice grain finished steaks as well. I know, I'm no help.

matt_man · #24 03/01/11, 08:46 AM

All the steers we have raised have been totally grass fed. It has been very good. Conditions weren't right for them to put on a lot of fat but they were still tasty.

trbizwiz · #25 03/02/11, 10:18 AM

As far as CLA and fatty acids, everything I've read indicates they come from a diet high in legumes. So clover, alfalfa, and such. With a high legume diet precautions will have to be taken. You definitely want to avoid bloat. I give my cattle a high legume diet and a free choice bloat block in the spring. They seem to do fine. Besides bloat there is that high protein on the blood thing too. So you can't put them in a straight clover or alfalfa field.
Also they need some sugar to put on fat.
Now I have never finished a beef yet. But my plans for mine are clover, rye grass and fescue in the spring. Alfalfa and fescue and orchard grass in the summer with some Sudan grass. And clover fescue and rye in the fall and then process. Should give nice gains. A prolonged drought will send that whole plan in the crapper. Cows won't finish very nice on hay. You would just about need to lease an irrigated turf farm in a drought to get a great finish on grass.
Sudan and alfalfa are drought tolerant, but the won't recover quickly if it's dry.

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