Would love to invite you gentlemen to our family ranch in the beautiful Kansas Flint Hills. See how our family has been raising our All Natural heard for generations. Then come into town to our Meat Stores where we sell directly to consumers. I spend much of each day helping our customers select the right cut of meat for their tastebuds, family needs, and budget, then helping them decide how to prepare it.

I found your article very informative, although I differ in opinion on some points. However, as we all know, a Steak is a very personal statement. Thank you for this book & article. Tiya

Hi Tiya, thanks for the invitation and I’ll pass it on to Mark. I’ll contact you directly to hear more about your steaks. - RG

I can’t say with certainty what kind of cattle they’re raising for beef in Malaysia — probably more than one variety. In all probability, they are at least part Indicus. This refers to a strain of cattle originating in India characterized by the hump on their shoulder. Indicus beef can be very good, I’m told, but it’s considered less tender than Taurus cattle (the cattle you find in Europe and most of North America).

As to why there is an unpleasant smell or taste, I can’t say. Is it very lean? I once had horse meat in Mongolia that tasted the way a horse smells on a hot summer day — not good. It almost put me off horse meat forever. But I recently had some horse tartare that was excellent. Meat quality has everything to do with how you raise the animal.

Hope this helps.

Mark

Thanks Mark - RG

I think the types of cow here are the Indian type or ignorantly me, not sure what exact breed it is called, but it definitely has a very distinct smell/taste to it that you can never find it on USDA beef. I tend to enjoy the local beef here much less than back in US college days where I enjoy cooking beef the most. Better beef for grilling and slightly inferior ones for stir fry.

Geographically, sigh… hard to find them, (the good beef), but in your composition, I am already drooling over your explicit explanation of the beef you deemed “good.” So, cheers for the tasty thought.

If you find out the breed of cattle raised in Malaysia, please let me know. Thanks for the comments. - RG