Cow Beef, Man's Meat, Or Is It?

That would depend largely on whether or not the cow was from the BOVINE family and what condition the "cow" was in before being killed.

Bison are Beef Cattle

So are Long Horns

For several years,they were the only beef, other than the Bison. to be found in the United States.

Buffalo, (buffalo are found only in Africa and some parts of Asia) also belong to the bovine family. They are beef cattle, and so; buffalo meat is beef.

 Bison are bovines and the meat is technically beef but often much better.

Would you call them all Prime beef?

Those of you that trust our politicians and government institutions, believe in free trade, love the local Safeway or other supermarket and think all meat comes wrapped in plastic may want to stop reading about here.

The name meat is given generally to all edible flesh of animals used for food. The name beef is used for flesh of adult bovine or cattle, veal for the flesh of calves, unborn to about two months of age, pork for flesh of swine, mutton for the flesh of adult sheep and lamb for the flesh of sheep from six weeks to one year old. The flesh or muscle consists of fibres held together by connective tissue. Muscles that are used most are toughest. Muscles become tougher as an animal matures.

©Al Girvan 1990