Quote:
Originally Posted by globaldesigns
Actually, a very good family friend is best friends with the president of a Alberta Cattle Assoc... I talked with him once, and he stated that Costco is one of the best places for consumers to get top quality beef.
I am not sure your point about Costco is valid... Just wondering, you use to work for Costco? However I can tell you I got my comments from one of the big guys in the industry.
Costco isn't cheaper in price, but you get higher grade and better cuts compared to places like safeway (local grocery stores). I myself enjoy a good cut of beef (love my striploin), and do buy from Costco.
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yup, this is true. once again the post you were replying to was posting USA related articles and this is the biggest cause of confusion as the Canadian regulations are way different that US regulations, and the fact most of the articles are older befor the increased regs in the US. Costco Canada uses AAA canadian beef.
as for the feedlot, vs ranch, vs hobby farmer. 99% of beef you used to buy in the stores has spent time at a feed lot, although this has been changing over the last 20 years to a lower percentage, the majority is feed lot cattle. I used to work in a feed lot as a summer job when I was younger and I worked on the family ranch(es) (out of my 10 aunts and uncles 7 of them are still ranchers)
feed lots are not where the cattle grow up, but a stopping point befor getting shipped to the slaughter house. normaly the cattle spend less than a month there, at most if the market is slow 3 months. now in a real bad year maybe a bit longer waiting for the price of beef to rise so they can make a profit. think of them as a holding point till there is enough to make shipping reasonable or till the numbers are sufficient to fill orders.
hobby farmers who run insanly low populations of cattle per acre, usaly justify there proces with value added services. for eg. they have higher prices but throw in cutting, wrapping and delivery, or custom cutting. maybe curing/smoking, sausage ect. or only sell to small butcher shops.
Steve
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