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Heritage beef comes from pure and cross bred livestock and from rare and endangered
breeds. These heritage breeds were originally bred for particular geographical and
climatic environments and consumer preferences.
In the last few decades heritage breeds have been mostly ignored in favor of a handful
of "super-efficient" cattle breeds promoted by the mammoth agricultural-feed-lot-meat
industries.
Heritage breeds are not as "efficient", economically speaking, as their industrial
counterparts: they will only thrive on pastures as the true herbivores they are.
They simply do not respond well to the artificial life of feed-lot cattle.
Heritage cattle breeders need all the help they can get from conscientious consumers.
Be on the lookout for:
The Red Poll: these were developed as a dual purpose breed. Small and hardy, a true
red with a white mottled face. Superior exquisite beef.
The Dexter: first imported to the U.S. in the early 1900's, from Ireland. Because
of its small size it requires less pasturing space. Beef from Dexter breeds result in
small cuts of prime, dark meat.
These are only two examples of heritage beef, you certainly won't find them in most
supermarkets.
To find a farm growing heritage cattle breeds near you, or to order heritage meats
online, browse the LocalHarvest website.
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Photo by Gladhour Farm
