by Jared Long, CHB LLC account manager [email protected]

food technologist; and Larry cattle excel in yet another Hereford Beef: Cundiff, geneticist, published trait. Packers love Hereford the results of a trial testing beef because it’s just what the tenderness of steaks from food service and retailers want Tender and Lean seven industry-dominate cattle — increasing sales. Retailers breeds in the Journal of Animal love it because it’s a quality The “silver bullet” for the Science in 2005. product that’s consistently perfect breed proves to be In order to assess beef tender, and consistency is vital ever elusive as cattle producers tenderness, Wheeler and to retaining repeat shoppers. of all breeds around the world colleagues subjected loin Most importantly consumers fight a never-ending battle to steaks to two different rave about Certified Hereford produce such. However, recent analytical measures — Beef ® (CHB) because studies encompassing multiple Warner-Bratzler shear force they don’t have to sacrifice parameters of Hereford cattle and a trained sensory panel. leanness for tenderness. prove that we’re getting closer Table 1 in the checkoff A multitude of meat to winning the battle. summary compares the quality research studies have Today’s consumer not only carcass quality and beef investigated marbling and its demands tender, great-tasting tenderness characteristics of tenderness implications. Most beef, but also expects it within the seven dominate breeds meat scientists agree that lean cuts of meat. For Hereford — Hereford, Angus, Red marbling accounts for 10-15%

Jared Long cattle, that’s not a problem. Angus, Charolais, Gelbvieh, of meat tenderness, not an In March 2006 a beef Limousin and Simmental. overwhelming percentage. checkoff funded executive The shear force results Numerous reports show summary titled “Pre-Harvest in this table show that that a segment of American Cattle Management Practices the Hereford steaks were consumers negatively correlate for Enhancing Beef Tenderness” comparable in tenderness increased intramuscular fat was published. The summary to those from their British deposits and health-conscious included information about counterparts, Angus and diets. In addition, multiple how cattle genetics affect Red Angus. Since 65% of studies show that consumers beef tenderness. the Hereford steers graded are willing to pay considerable Table 1 in the summary Choice or higher compared premiums for tender beef. references research findings to 88% and 90% for Angus Hereford producers, packers and of scientists from the U.S. and Red Angus, respectively, retailers have an opportunity Meat Animal Research Center this tenderness measure to fill the demand for both (MARC), Clay Center, Neb. indicates that Hereford cattle tender and lean product. Tommy Wheeler, acting do not necessarily need Although it’s not included research leader for the meat excess amounts of marbling in the checkoff summary, safety and quality research to produce tender beef. MARC’s published data unit and his MARC colleagues, This is exciting news. also shows that the trained Mohammad Koohmaraie, Hereford producers can feel sensory panel rated the director; Steven Shackelford, confident knowing their Hereford steaks as equal to the other British breeds in not only tenderness CHB captures Chili Bowl trophy attributes, but juiciness and Certified Hereford Beef (CHB) LLC, with the help of Greater beef flavor intensity as well. The bottom line is that this Omaha Packing Co. Inc. and National Beef Packing Co. LLC, research shows that Herefords collected more than $800 in donations during the 24th are able to produce steaks as Annual North Carolina Chili Championship & Rubber Duck tender, juicy and tasty as those Regatta. The event, which was Sept. 23 in Tanglewood, from other breeds noted for N.C., raised money for the March of Dimes. higher levels of marbling. CHB LLC staff members Rob Ames and Jared Long, While we all know there’s along with Reid Swanson, National Beef; and Lance Bartley no “perfect” breed, time after Jared Long, CHB LLC account manager, and Roy Wiggs, Greater Omaha; lured event visitors to the is presented the coveted “Chili Bowl” time scientific studies and tent by serving CHB ribeye steak sandwiches loaded with for capturing second place in total consumers prove Hereford green peppers and onions. amount of charity donations raised. cattle aren’t far from it. And that’s not just any bull CHB LLC took second place in amount of money raised, capturing the prized Chili Bowl trophy. HW — that’s Hereford bulls! HW

12 HEREFORD WORLD / November 2006 www.hereford.org