The Meat Market
/mēt ˈmärkət/
1. a marketplace where meat is sold, often by a butcher.
2. a meeting place such as a bar or nightclub for people seeking sexual encounters.
The Cow
Cattle produce about 25 billion pounds of meat each year. The combined value of the cattle and beef industry is $200 billion.
Calves are usually sold after they are weaned, at about six-eight months. After weaning, cattle are sent to feedlots for approximately 120 days where they are fed a high-energy ration of grain and hay. After this time called finishing, the cattle are sent to a harvest plant.
The Butcher
a person who may slaughter animals, dress their flesh, sell their meat, or participate within any combination of these three tasks. They may prepare standard cuts of meat and poultry for sale in retail or wholesale food establishments.
The Consumer
The person purchasing and eating the meat. The average consumer will eat 222.2 pounds of red meat and poultry this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, surpassing a record set in 2004.