May is National Beef Month, which is a great opportunity to celebrate all aspects of the beef industry from pasture to plate. Farmers and ranchers work hard every day to provide quality care for their cattle, practice stewardship of the land, and produce a wholesome, nutritious beef product for consumers.
Nebraska’s Beef Industry
Historically known as the Beef State, Nebraska leads the nation in beef and veal exports and commercial cattle slaughter. Additionally, Nebraska ranks second for all cattle and calves, all cattle on feed, and commercial red meat production. There are 22 million acres of rangeland and pastureland in Nebraska, half of which are in the Sandhills. Cattle can graze this land that is not suitable for farming and turn it into protein and other products for humans. Due to these unique natural resources, Nebraska is home to the top three beef cow counties in the U.S., which include Cherry, Custer, and Holt counties. For more Nebraska beef production data, check out the livestock systems maps from All Things Nebraska: https://allthingsnebraska.unl.edu/category/program-areas/livestock-systems/.
Nutritional Value of Beef
Beef plays an important role in providing key nutrients for a healthy lifestyle. A three-ounce serving of lean beef contains nearly half of the Daily Value (DV) for protein. In addition to being an excellent source of protein, beef provides nine other essential nutrients including iron, zinc, phosphorous, selenium, niacin, riboflavin, choline, and vitamin B6 and B12. Research shows that lean beef can be included in a heart-healthy diet to aid in the reduction of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol levels. The majority of preferred cuts of beef are lean and contain below 10 grams of total fat, less than 4.5 grams of saturated fat, and under 95 milligrams of cholesterol per serving.
From hamburgers to ribeyes, beef is a versatile commodity that is naturally nutrient dense. Visit https://www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/ to find a beef recipe for any occasion.Enjoy some beef this grilling season in celebration and support of one of Nebraska’s largest industries.
Article by Erin Laborie, Nebraska Extension Livestock System Educator.
