Post by Nonesuch Melissa on Jul 18, 2008 18:58:06 GMT -5
... they will still TASTE BETTER!
Read on!
Beef Tasting Compares Ten Heritage
Breeds
For Immediate Release
What's the Beef? An Historical and Culinary First
Pittsboro, NC: On June 20, 2008, approximately 70 food professionals, chefs,
food writers, and food connoisseurs gathered at Ayrshire Farm in Upperville,
VA, to participate in a blind-tasting which compared beef from eight rare
heritage breeds and two widely available breeds of cattle.
The mission of the event was to make a flavor comparison of beef from these
ten breeds to demonstrate the culinary diversity they represent, as well as
the value of conserving rare breeds. "We have to eat them to save them,"
said Sandy Lerner, the host for the tasting. "When we eat them, we are
giving farmers an economic reason to conserve rare breeds and the important
genetic diversity they represent."
This unique event presented meat from the chuck section of each breed
roasted simply, without spices, and cut into bite-sized pieces in covered
dishes at numbered stations. Numbered toothpicks and scorecards were
provided to aid in evaluating the beef. The meat was scored based on flavor,
texture, tenderness, smell, and appearance.
The breeds tasted were: Ancient White Park, Angus, Dexter, Galloway,
Highland, Milking Devon, Pineywoods, Randall Lineback, Red Poll, and (beef)
Shorthorn. Many of these breeds are endangered and are considered important
reservoirs of genetic diversity by the American Livestock Breeds
Conservancy. As examples of critically rare remnants of landrace cattle that
helped found the United States, Pineywoods cattle are adapted to the deep
South and Randall Lineback cattle are native to New England.
After tasting the beef, the enthusiastic crowd was asked to vote for their
favorite number before the breed identities were revealed. The winner of the
popular vote in this ground-breaking tasting was the Randall Lineback, with
second place going to the Galloway and third to the Dexter. The top three
favorites each received nearly twice as many votes for first place as any of
the other breeds tasted.
Though some breeds had few supporters as first choice, it should be noted
that many of these breeds garnered second and third placements on
individuals' tally cards. "I was amazed how different people preferred
different breeds to such an extent that there was no obvious winner."
Remarked Kristi Bahrenburg Janzen of Edible Chesapeake.
All but three of the breeds - the Milking Devon, the Randall Lineback, and
the Red Poll - had been finished on Ayrshire Farm, fed an organic finishing
feed, and raised and processed humanely, following Humane Farm Animal Care's
standards. The Randall Lineback was grown and finished on Chapel Hill Farm.
The Milking Devon and the Red Poll were grass-finished as there were no
steers available to finish on grain due to rarity and herd reduction
following the drought of 2007.
This event was the largest comparison of beef breeds in North America to
date and it successfully demonstrated that each of these breeds is valuable
for the unique culinary experience it offers. To quote one attendee, Lina
Burton of The Mercer House, "And the beef - who would have thought that they
really did taste different, and were so much better than what is available
commercially in the supermarket? "
What's the Beef - An Historical Event was produced through a partnership of
the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, Humane Farm Animal Care, Slow
Food USA, and Ayrshire Farm.
For more information on the beef breeds, placings, hosting organizations, or
cattle facts, visit: www.ayrshirefarm.com/tasting/beef/
Don Schrider
Communication Director
The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
P.O. Box 477
Pittsboro, NC 27312
(919) 542-5704
editor@albc- <mailto:editor@albc-usa.org> usa.org
www.albc-usa. <http://www.albc- usa.org/> org
THE AMERICAN LIVESTOCK BREEDS CONSERVANCY, founded in 1977, is a non-profit
membership organization working to protect over 150 breeds of cattle, goats,
horses, asses, sheep, pigs, rabbits and poultry from extinction. It is the
pioneer organization in the U.S. working to conserve heritage breeds and
genetic diversity in livestock.
"The myth surrounding the future is that with all of this advanced
technology our separate breeds will no longer be needed. This is not so.
Just as a writer needs a precise language to express himself clearly, we
need our separate breeds to better produce animal products."
Herman Purdy, "Breeds of Cattle"
Edited to fix link per Catherine's request ;D
Read on!
Beef Tasting Compares Ten Heritage
Breeds
For Immediate Release
What's the Beef? An Historical and Culinary First
Pittsboro, NC: On June 20, 2008, approximately 70 food professionals, chefs,
food writers, and food connoisseurs gathered at Ayrshire Farm in Upperville,
VA, to participate in a blind-tasting which compared beef from eight rare
heritage breeds and two widely available breeds of cattle.
The mission of the event was to make a flavor comparison of beef from these
ten breeds to demonstrate the culinary diversity they represent, as well as
the value of conserving rare breeds. "We have to eat them to save them,"
said Sandy Lerner, the host for the tasting. "When we eat them, we are
giving farmers an economic reason to conserve rare breeds and the important
genetic diversity they represent."
This unique event presented meat from the chuck section of each breed
roasted simply, without spices, and cut into bite-sized pieces in covered
dishes at numbered stations. Numbered toothpicks and scorecards were
provided to aid in evaluating the beef. The meat was scored based on flavor,
texture, tenderness, smell, and appearance.
The breeds tasted were: Ancient White Park, Angus, Dexter, Galloway,
Highland, Milking Devon, Pineywoods, Randall Lineback, Red Poll, and (beef)
Shorthorn. Many of these breeds are endangered and are considered important
reservoirs of genetic diversity by the American Livestock Breeds
Conservancy. As examples of critically rare remnants of landrace cattle that
helped found the United States, Pineywoods cattle are adapted to the deep
South and Randall Lineback cattle are native to New England.
After tasting the beef, the enthusiastic crowd was asked to vote for their
favorite number before the breed identities were revealed. The winner of the
popular vote in this ground-breaking tasting was the Randall Lineback, with
second place going to the Galloway and third to the Dexter. The top three
favorites each received nearly twice as many votes for first place as any of
the other breeds tasted.
Though some breeds had few supporters as first choice, it should be noted
that many of these breeds garnered second and third placements on
individuals' tally cards. "I was amazed how different people preferred
different breeds to such an extent that there was no obvious winner."
Remarked Kristi Bahrenburg Janzen of Edible Chesapeake.
All but three of the breeds - the Milking Devon, the Randall Lineback, and
the Red Poll - had been finished on Ayrshire Farm, fed an organic finishing
feed, and raised and processed humanely, following Humane Farm Animal Care's
standards. The Randall Lineback was grown and finished on Chapel Hill Farm.
The Milking Devon and the Red Poll were grass-finished as there were no
steers available to finish on grain due to rarity and herd reduction
following the drought of 2007.
This event was the largest comparison of beef breeds in North America to
date and it successfully demonstrated that each of these breeds is valuable
for the unique culinary experience it offers. To quote one attendee, Lina
Burton of The Mercer House, "And the beef - who would have thought that they
really did taste different, and were so much better than what is available
commercially in the supermarket? "
What's the Beef - An Historical Event was produced through a partnership of
the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, Humane Farm Animal Care, Slow
Food USA, and Ayrshire Farm.
For more information on the beef breeds, placings, hosting organizations, or
cattle facts, visit: www.ayrshirefarm.com/tasting/beef/
Don Schrider
Communication Director
The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
P.O. Box 477
Pittsboro, NC 27312
(919) 542-5704
editor@albc- <mailto:editor@albc-usa.org> usa.org
www.albc-usa. <http://www.albc- usa.org/> org
THE AMERICAN LIVESTOCK BREEDS CONSERVANCY, founded in 1977, is a non-profit
membership organization working to protect over 150 breeds of cattle, goats,
horses, asses, sheep, pigs, rabbits and poultry from extinction. It is the
pioneer organization in the U.S. working to conserve heritage breeds and
genetic diversity in livestock.
"The myth surrounding the future is that with all of this advanced
technology our separate breeds will no longer be needed. This is not so.
Just as a writer needs a precise language to express himself clearly, we
need our separate breeds to better produce animal products."
Herman Purdy, "Breeds of Cattle"
Edited to fix link per Catherine's request ;D