By Julie Murphree
“Cattlemen and women have made incredible strides in responding to consumer demand for high-quality and consistent beef, raising cattle that meet that expectation,” said Arizona Beef Council Executive Director Lauren Maehling in the May 2024 issue of Arizona Agriculture. And on that note, it’s time to celebrate National Beef Month since it’s May!
Maehling further added, “When I was in college, I remember the national average of cattle grading prime was 2 percent. Now, 11 to 12 percent is the norm, according to the USDA. The industry has improved cattle genetics, beef quality, feeding practices, and trimming to produce more consistent beef that consumers love. Still, if consumers are looking for lean and tender – that’s an option. AND while we are experiencing smaller national cattle herds, more beef is being raised per animal – 60 percent more since 1961, while reducing emissions per pound of beef by more than 40 percent, according to the UN FAO and the USDA.”
In summary, cattle genetics, beef quality, feeding practices, and improved environmental practices mean we are in the best days of wonderfully tasty Arizona and American beef. We celebrated the same this last Saturday on Rosie on the House with young rancher Wyatt Ross.
During the show, Ross shared his family’s agriculture heritage in Arizona and highlighted the direct market beef program they recently launched to a broader consumer audience: Windmill Mountain Ranch. The full episode is below.
But first, let’s look at some of our favorite Arizona beef facts provided by our Arizona ranchers and the Arizona Beef Council.
- Arizona beef ranks top when it comes to quality and taste!
- Arizona cattle ranches produce enough beef to feed more than 8 million people every year.
- Not only is raising beef cattle one of Arizona’s largest agriculture commodities, but it is also the largest area of all American agriculture.
- Beef is a complete, high-quality protein, which means it supplies all the essential amino acids or building blocks of protein, the body needs to build, maintain and repair body tissue.
- A 3-ounce serving of lean beef is an excellent source of protein, supplying more than half of the protein most people need each day.
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