Natural Beef Production Research Articles

Differentiation of commercial ground beef products and correlation between metabolites and sensory attributes: A metabolomic approach

Three traditional grinds (commodity products) and 7 non-traditional grinds (branded products) were obtained to investigate the metabolites in ground beef associated with beef flavor or off-flavor. Three packaging methods were used: traditional overwrap, modified atmosphere package, and clear plastic retail chub. Samples were collected for sensory evaluation and metabolic profiling utilizing LC/MS. Principal component analysis was conducted for classification of grind source or packaging method. Partial least squares regression was applied to investigate the relationship between metabolic data and sensory data. Grass-fed beef and natural beef products were clearly separated from the other grinds. A total of 576 metabolites were registered. Thirty-three compounds were selected as the most important ones differentiating beef grinds. Twenty-two compounds were selected as the most important ones associated with beef flavor and off-flavor. In conclusion, metabolomic approach was effective to determine the most important compounds associated with certain quality characteristics of beef.

Natural beef production and growth of Bonsmara steers stocked on rye and ryegrass pastures at humid and semiarid environments

ABSTRACT Natural, organic, and grass-fed beef provides alternative products for consumers. During 2 consecutive yr, Bonsmara steers (n = 130) grazed winter pasture at 2 environments [semiarid, Uvalde (UVL), and humid, Overton (OVT)] and received pasture only (PAS) or pasture plus 0.8% BW/steer per day corn (SUPL) to quantify growth and carcass traits. Each year, 8 steers each from UVL and OVT were slaughtered off pasture and after a 90-d feedlot (FED) period. From initiation to termination (mid-May) of stocking on Maton rye (Secale cereale L.) plus TAM-90 annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) at OVT and irrigated TAM-90 at UVL, ADG was greater (P 0.05) FED ADG. Growth in BW was linear (P 0.05) by SUPL. Tenderness was enhanced (P

Values based supply chain management and emergent organizational structures

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe an emergent supply chain management system that supports a sustainable values based organization (VBO) using a structuration theory‐based framework.Design/methodology/approachA case study of a sustainable beef cooperative employing a structuration theory framework provides insights into sustainable supply chain management models.FindingsThe supply chain design and management afford the key to the VBO's success. In order to attain the necessary price premium, the unique product attributes acquired through the natural beef production process must be sustained along the entire supply chain and communicated to the end customer. Structuration theory is useful in understanding supply chain management in VBOs.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper has implications for studying VBOs, particularly those prioritizing sustainability values. The descriptive model presented is useful in settings where organizational structure and the supply chain are needed to support sustainable products and processes and whose success is facilitated by establishing strategic partners, especially those that make possible economies of scale. The study is limited to one, privately owned firm, operating in a specialty industry sector.Practical implicationsThe paper has implications for those entities with an identified values set that endows the product with unique characteristics that must be conveyed to their end consumer in order to command a price premium and/or differentiate the product from a commodity. The case study provides an example of how a unique product as well as a facilitating organizational structure and supply chain emerge out of the application of a set of core values.Originality/valueLittle previous research focuses on implications of supply chain management in VBOs. In addition, the paper contributes to both the supply chain management and sustainability literature by relating supply chain management to a more comprehensive sustainability agenda including social, environmental, and long‐term economic sustainability and by a theoretically based structuring.

Strategic market planning for value-added natural beef products: A cluster analysis of Colorado consumers

In the past decade, sales of meat products labeled as natural (minimally processed) and produced without antibiotics and hormones have increased dramatically. In response to growing demand for meat products differentiated by various production attributes, many smaller-scale beef enterprises are considering direct marketing of their beef products to end-consumers as a viable approach to sustaining their family farming operations. This research uses survey data from Colorado consumers, and factor and cluster analysis to determine market segments for various (varied by production protocols and other meat attributes) natural beef products. Findings from the cluster analysis indicate that there are multiple segments of consumers who are likely to purchase natural beef, and that different segments are motivated by different factors. The most important factor explaining almost two-thirds of the differences among consumer responses relates to consumers' perceptions of the importance of meat attributes related to production practices (e.g. use of antibiotics, hormones and environmentally friendly grazing). Interestingly, the two consumer segments that are willing to pay a significantly higher premium for natural, local beef are motivated by different aspects of the meat and its intrinsic production attributes. One segment, representing 12.5% of consumers, ranked the importance of all production attributes significantly lower than the sample average. Consumers in this segment appear to be motivated by their perceptions of the extrinsic quality of natural beef products. The other segment, 13% of consumers, appears to be altruistic, ranking all production attributes such as ‘no antibiotics’, ‘no hormones’, and ‘humane treatment’, significantly higher than all of the other clusters. These results indicate the potential strength of production methods (and marketing of such quality differences) as product differentiation criteria. This paper illustrates the type of market research that may be useful for beef producers seeking value-added marketing opportunities, and portrays the types of consumers who are fueling the growth in natural meats in the United States. Such market analysis can facilitate producers' ability to effectively develop product concepts, labeling and promotional strategies targeted at the most receptive consumer segments, and illustrates that there is more than one type of consumer interested in purchasing products differentiated by sustainable production methods.

Western cattle prices vary across video markets and value-adding programs

We analyzed video auction sales in the western United States from 1997 to 2003, in an attempt to answer two long-standing questions about the economics of cattle ranching in California. First, as expected, ranchers received lower prices for cattle sold here compared to prices received by ranchers in the Midwest; this is due to the cost of transporting cattle to Midwestern feedlots. Second, some (but not all) “value-adding” production and marketing practices — such as preconditioning, Quality Assurance Programs and natural beef production — did raise prices received by ranchers. We report on the average location discounts and quality premiums for several market regions.

A Cluster Analysis of Natural Beef Product Consumers by Shopping Behavior, Importance of Production Attributes, and Demographics

The increasing complexity of consumer food-purchasing trends is an important factor guiding all agribusiness-marketing efforts (Kinsey and Senauer 1996). Retail sales trends indicate organic meats and poultry is the fastest growing segment of the $23 billion organic food industry, with a growth of 77.8% from 2002 to 2003 (Organic Trade Association 2004). Sales of organic food through general supermarkets (rather than specialty natural markets) more than doubled from 1993 to 1995—an increase from $98 million to $210 million—and accounted for 45% of natural/organic food sales in 2001, up from 31% in 1998. These trends illustrate a growing mainstream appeal of natural foods and motivate the need for consumer profi les of those most likely to purchase natural meats. This research analyzes consumer segments based on their interest and willingness-to-pay for various natural beef products (varied by production protocols and potential public goods) using cluster analysis. Such an analysis should facilitate producers’ ability to effectively develop product concepts, labeling, and promotional strategies targeted at the most receptive consumer segments. The research hypothesis is that there are multiple segments of consumers who are likely to purchase natural beef, and that different segments are motivated by different factors. Ziehl (2004) found that consumers who have previously purchased natural beef or occasionally buy meat at alternative markets (not supermarkets) are more willing to pay a premium for natural products. Consumer’s stated importance and interest in attributes such as natural and/or grass-fed production practices, traceability, and tested for Mad Cow Disease also affect their decision to pay a premium for natural, regionally-produced beef. Ziehl’s research motivated the need for market analysis methods to defi ne specifi c consumer-segment groups. Using cluster analysis, a common market analysis technique, one could sort consumers with similarities into groups, enhancing producer and retail initiatives to target product development, promotional messages, and price points.