Beef is the culinary name of meat from the domestic cattle (cow, heifer, steer, ox or bull) and other adult members of the bovine family (bison, buffalo, water buffalo, yak, and antilope).
The best beef meat comes from an grass-fed animal about three to four years old. The good quality meet is usually a heifer or steer. The lower quality meat, it’s usually a cow. The composition of beef depends to a large extent on the breed of the animal, the degree to which it has been fattened, and the particular cut of beef in question. In fact, the way in which beef is cut determines to a great extent the difference between tender and tough meat and, consequently, the price that is charged.
The general method of cutting up a whole beef into large cuts is shown in the picture below. The cutting of the animal, as well as the names that are given to the various cuts, sometimes varies in different localities, but the difference is not sufficient to be confusing.
(Excerpts and recipes used with permission from the book "Cooking with Kids" by Maya Gavric)
Cow: A female animal that has had at least one calf.
Heifer: A female animal that has never had a calf. Once a heifer has a calf, she automatically becomes a cow.
Bull: A mature male animal that is used for breeding.
Steer: A male animal that has been neutered before reaching sexual maturity and is primarily used for beef. A steer is not usually considered an ox until it is four years old.
Ox: An adult neutered bovine animal, which is usually trained and used for draft or riding purposes.
HELPFUL TIPS:
When the quality of beef is to be determined, the amount, quality, and color of the flesh, bone, and fat must be considered. The surface of a freshly cut piece of beef should be bright red in color.
In young beef in good condition, the fat is creamy white in color. However, as the animal grows older, the color grows darker until it becomes a deep yellow.