Synopses & Reviews
Quality Beef, Respectfully Harvested
Beef cattle are large animals, requiring significant land and expense. Humane slaughtering and efficient butchering will give you the best return on the cattle you process, and Adam Danforth's comprehensive manual guides you through every step.
Be well prepared for slaughtering day. Careful planning and execution - from selecting proper equipment to keeping animals calm and processing the carcass quickly and efficiently - ensure that you will keep stress levels low and meat quality high.
Get the cuts you want from each primal. A detailed beef cut sheet and a thorough understanding of cattle anatomy help you work your way logically through the entire carcass. Hundreds of step-by-step photographs invite you to the butcher's table to learn the art of cutting primals into everything from flank steaks to briskets to standing rib roasts.
Package and freeze your meat to preserve quality, appearance, and freshness. After your entire animal has been cut, trimmed, and portioned, your final steps are to properly wrap and store your beef for maximum flavor and nutrition.
Review
"Over the years, I've met dozens of chefs and home cooks who wanted to buy beef in carcass form from a local farmer.
Review
"Adam Danforth's two new books about butchering feature tasteful photographs and a thorough explanation of each step of the process. ... [They]make you feel like you can raise and process your own livestock, and do it thoughtfully and skillfully ... [and] provide new insights for all of us about butchering and its impact on the quality of meat."
Kitchen Arts - & - Letters
Review
"These are not mere how-to guides: they are the equivalent of in-depth college courses. ... What's more, this is not just academic data: there are practical applications, and not only for homestead butchers. Anyone who cooks or eats meat would benefit from much of this information. ... On a scale of 1-10, these easily rank 12, minimum." HobbyFarms.com
Review
"[A] breathtaking guide through the paradoxical process of killing animals with compassion. ... For those who have embraced the farm to table movement and are ready to take matters into their own hands, this is required reading. For those whose consideration of meat and poultry begins and ends at the supermarket, it is a transformative wake-up call." The Shepherd
Review
"There's an entire industry of professionals who humanely raise and slaughter animals for a living, in an intensely personal and responsible way that's to be admired. One of those professionals is Adam Danforth, the author of a new book series that sets out to educate those interested in humanely slaughtering their own food."
Review
"If you're interested in self-sustainability and raising livestock for meat consumption, this book is the next step in your process. It's informative, it's comprehensive, and above all else, it's reverent and respectful of the animals giving their lives so we can live ours."
Review
"These books were written by a man who loves livestock, and loves meat - with reverence."
Synopsis
Using detailed, step-by-step photography of every stage of the process, Adam Danforth shows you exactly how to humanely slaughter and butcher cattle for beef. From creating the right pre-slaughter conditions to killing, skinning, keeping cold, breaking the meat down, and creating cuts of meat you'll recognize from the market, Danforth walks you through every step, leaving nothing to chance. He also covers food safety, freezing and packaging, and tools and equipment. This comprehensive reference is the only guide you need to successfully, safely, and humanely slaughter and butcher your own animal.
Synopsis
Learn how to humanely slaughter cattle and butcher your own beef. In this straightforward guide, Adam Danforth provides clear instructions and step-by-step photography of the entire butchering process, from creating the right preslaughter conditions through killing, skinning, keeping cold, breaking the meat down, and perfecting expert cuts. With plenty of encouragement and expert advice on food safety, packaging, and necessary equipment, this comprehensive guide has all the information you need to start butchering your own beef.
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About the Author
Adam Danforth trained at the professional meat processing program at SUNY Cobleskill, one of the only such programs in the United States, before going to work at Marlow and Daughters in New York City. He’s also worked as a butcher at Blue Hill and teaches home butchering workshops at the Stone Barns Center for Agriculture. Adam also works with individual farmers who are slaughtering animals for themselves, and because of that, he has a keen awareness of the needs of farmers, especially those who may be killing an animal for the first time. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Temple Grandin is the best-selling author of Animals in Translation,Thinking in Pictures, and Humane Livestock Handling. Grandin's humane livestock facility designs have been adopted all over the world, and she is a trusted advisor to several segments of the fast food industry. Her work has been featured on 20/20, Nature, 48 Hours, and The Today Show. Grandin is Assistant Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University.
Table of Contents
Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1
From Muscle to Meat
Chapter 2
Food Safety
Chapter 3
Tools & Equipment
Chapter 4
Butchering Methods
Chapter 5
Pre-Slaughtering Conditions
General Slaughter Techniques
Chapter 6
Slaughtering Cattle
Chapter 7
Beef Butchering
Chapter 8
Packaging & Freezing
Glossary
Resources
Index