Butchering Beef: The Comprehensive Photographic Guide to Humane Slaughtering and Butchering

"[A] breathtaking guide through the paradoxical process of killing animals with compassion. ... For those who have embraced the farm to table movement and are ready to take matters into their own hands, this is required reading. For those whose consideration of meat and poultry begins and ends at the supermarket, it is a transformative wake-up call." --The Shepherd "These are not mere how-to guides: they are the equivalent of in-depth college courses. ... What's more, this is not just academic data: there are practical applications, and not only for homestead butchers. Anyone who cooks or eats meat would benefit from much of this information. ... On a scale of 1-10, these easily rank 12, minimum." --HobbyFarms.com "Adam Danforth's two new books about butchering feature tasteful photographs and a thorough explanation of each step of the process. ... [They]make you feel like you can raise and process your own livestock, and do it thoughtfully and skillfully ... [and] provide new insights for all of us about butchering and its impact on the quality of meat." --Kitchen Arts & Letters "These books were written by a man who loves livestock, and loves meat - with reverence." "If you're interested in self-sustainability and raising livestock for meat consumption, this book is the next step in your process. It's informative, it's comprehensive, and above all else, it's reverent and respectful of the animals giving their lives so we can live ours." "There's an entire industry of professionals who humanely raise and slaughter animals for a living, in an intensely personal and responsible way that's to be admired. One of those professionals is Adam Danforth, the author of a new book series that sets out to educate those interested in humanely slaughtering their own food."

More and more people are deciding to raise their own meat, from farmers to homesteaders, even chefs. This is the book that shows them exactly how to handle the slaughter and butchering of their livestock in a humane and sustainable way. With step-by-step photographs of the farm to table process, it is destined to be the bible on the topic. It begins with general information about food safety, freezing and packaging, tools and equipment, butchering methods, and pre-slaughter conditions before moving into the specifics of slaughtering and butchering cattle. It includes detailed descriptions of specialty cuts and how to make them.