THINKING OF FILLING THE FREEZER WITH BEEF?

In recent weeks, several faculty members have enquired about the wisdom
of purchasing beef by the side or quarter. If you know what you're about
it is possible to effect a sizable saving. If you don't, you can be
victimized by an unscrupulous butcher. In fact, the initiated can also
be taken for a ride, and quite often are.

Not everyone can effect a saving by purchasing beef by the side or quarter.
If you are like me, you can perhaps do better by buying beef on sale at
retail outlets. However, if you are seriously thinking about buying beef
by the side, now would be a good time to do so. Prices can be expected

to increase markedly this fall.

The following news release prepared by the Beef Information Center, Toronto,
Ontario may be of help to faculty and staff members who do buy their beef
by the side or quarter. Ron Tarves, Institutes.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LOW BEEF PRICES... BUY BEEF IN QUANTITY NOW!

As most consumers are aware, beef prices are extremely low at the present
time. In fact, retail beef prices have dropped 20% in the last 4 months.

At a time when beef producers are experiencing low prices for their cattle,
they are faced with ever-rising costs of production. What does this mean
for the consumer? It means that if beef producers continue to lose

money at the present rate they will soon be forced out of business. The
long range effect of tnis would of course be a severe beef shortage.
Therefore it is essential that beef prices rise and we predict that this
will happen later this year. The increase in price will need to be
substantial for example 4O¢/lb. So be prepared!

dere's some Sound advice from the Beef Information Centre.

If you have a freezer then its a great time to buy a side of beef.
However it's not quite as easy as it sounds. You need to be well
informed before you make your purchase.

Buying a side of beef is not for everyone. You must be prepared to
use all the cuts of beef - braising ribs, stewing beef and even soup
bones. However you will find tnat this type of purchase has many
advantages - it can save you a great deal of money, you get consistent
quality and you can have the beef tailored to your wishes - eg. steaks
cut the thickness you want, hamburg as lean as you like, roasts just
the rignt size etc. You may also have tne beef aged a little longer.
Normally beef is aged 10-14 days but you may wish to have it aged an
extra week. :

Choose wisely and you will never regret your purchase. We recommend
that you follow these steps.

1. If you wish to buy directly from the farm, make sure you are dealing
with someone actively involved in the beef business. It is extremely
difficult to judge a good carcass “on tne hoof". Only an experienced
person with years of practice can do this. As a safety precaution,
suggest that the animal be slaughtered in 2 health-inspected plant.

.

Fq.