North Carolina Grass-fed Beef
Supply Assessment
Number of Cattle Produced by
NC Grass-fed Beef Production:
2,937 Cattle
842
2,095
Other cattle
Grass-fed
Beef on the Products vs Beef Cattle on the Hoof
Estimated Annual Revenue from:
Beef on the Hoof vs. Beef Products
2
1
$-
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,000 Dollars of Revenue
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
$2,000
Age Groups of
Grass-fed Cattle Producers
Number in Group
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
Age Groups
65-74
75-80
Type of Business for
Grass-fed Producers
Corporation
1
LLC
5
Partnership
4
Sole
Proprietor
23
How Do You Sell
Grass-fed Beef?
Number of Respondents
35
30
No
No
25
20
15
Yes
10
Yes
5
0
Do you sell frozen
grass-fed beef?
Do you sell fresh
grass-fed beef?
Do You Use a Private Label?
35
30
No
25
20
15
Yes
10
5
0
What is the Optimum Age
to Harvest Grass-fed Beef?
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
1year
2 years
Harvest Age
3 years
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
100-499
500-1000
1001-1500
Optimal Weight to Harvest Grass-fed
Beef
Educational Level of
Grass-fed Beef Producers
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Is product consistency an
issue to consider for
grass-fed beef?
No
1
Yes
29
Would you consider
"contract" grazing?
Maybe Possible
1
2
No
18
Yes
10
Would you be interested in
joining a North Carolina grassfed cattle association?
Maybe
No
2 Possible
1
1
Yes
28
Would you consider joining a
grass-fed cattle marketing
cooperative?
Maybe
7
No
8
Possible
1
Yes
17
What grade of grass-fed beef
should be harvested
Select
5
Choice
6
Prime
6
What Information Sources
Do You Use?
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Internet
Extension
Agent
Books &
Magazines
Beef Cattle production
Producers
NCSU
Cattlemen
Grass-fed production
None
Forage production
Source of Marketing
Information
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Internet
Extension
Agent
Books & Producers
Magazines
NCSU
Beef Cattle marketing
Grass-fed marketing
Cattlemen
None
Sources of Processing Information
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Internet
Extension Books & Producers
Agent
Magazines
USDA
NCDA
NCSU
Beef processing information
Beef product labeling information
Beef product transportation and storage
issuses
Cattlemen
None
Do you understand the current
U.S.D.A definition of grass-fed
cattle?
No
5
Yes
28
Do you know the
requirements of having an
organic beef label?
No
7
Yes
26
Do you use the
Internet to Market
your Grass-fed Beef?
No
14
Yes
19
Favorite Breeds for Grass-fed Cattle
Charlais Hereford 1
1
Jersey
Senepol
Shorthorn 2
2
1
Devon
2
Cross
Breeding
7
Angus
10
Angus Cross
10