About Nebraska Beef:

As a cattle rancher, and the son and grandson of cattle ranchers, who has lived in Nebraska all my life, you obviously won't be much surprised by my opinion on this matter. Still, I've got to say it; Nebraska beef is the best in the world. There is nothing better or juicier than a nice Omaha steak, slow-cooked over some mesquite smoke to add flavor, after being marinated over night and nicely tenderized. I've got to say, my stomach is rumbling just thinking about Nebraska beef.

Of course, all Nebraska beef cattle aren't the same Many are corn-fed, just like they feed them in other parts of the country. Corn feeding is cheaper than letting them graze on grass, and that's why it's done. I don't know the exact figures off hand, but its easy to think about. Corn grows high and plenty, all in one place, where it can be harvested, shipped and sold to large commercial ranchers who can then keep their Nebraska beef cattle in small factory farm pens where they are easy and inexpensive to look after.

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But the cows are unhealthy and unhappy. The corn isn't easily digested by the cows, causing malnutrition and all manner of digestive problems. The cows have to be fed on antibiotics just to stop them from getting infections, which farther weakens their immune system. And their meat is not good – overly fatty, and rubbery in texture. That is why the best of Nebraska beef is raised free range, just like our grandparents used to do it.

I grow my Nebraska beef cows on 500 acres of well preserved grazing land which has been in my family for generations. I'm not the shrewdest of businessmen, but I do alright for my self, and get to live in accordance with my philosophy. Simply put, I raise cows which I would enjoy cooking for my family.

It's expensive to run a business the way I do. You can get cheaper Nebraska beef by just keeping the cows in rows of pens and feeding them by machine, instead of putting up and maintaining fences, and having to herd and corral them. But you just can't get good Nebraska beef any other way, and I think that's what people want. I know that there are a lot of people who can't taste good meat from bad, and have the attitude “well, just fry it up”. But I raise Nebraska beef for other people.

By a Rancher, © 2006 by bmall.com - all rights reserved.