More on Hawaiian Red Veal

[Shelby Floyd]

HAWAIIAN RED VEAL – FACTS AND INFORMATION

What is veal?
Veal is the meat from young calves. It was originally a product of
the dairy industry: young male calves were raised for veal and fed
skim milk, a by-product of butter and cream production. In the past
these young calves were penned up to restrict their movement, thus
reduce the development of their muscles to produce tender meat. Milk
fed or formula-fed veal has an ivory to creamy pink flesh; the calves
are usually 18 to 20 weeks old, 450 to 500 pounds at slaughter. In
recent years, veal has come under scrutiny by animal rights'
organizations because of the way they are raised.

What is Hawaiian Red Veal?
Hawaiian Red Veal is produced from calves that are 5 to 6 months old,
weighing in at about 450 to 550 pounds. These calves have just been
weaned off the mother cow and have eaten some grass on pasture land
they have been allowed to roam. No hormones or antibiotics have been
administered to these young animals. They are as natural as can be and
best of all, a product of Hawaii ranches.
Hawaiian Red Veal meat is pinkish-red in color, tender with enough
fat to offer good mild beef flavor. Hawaiian Red Veal will be
available fresh through the end of June 2009; production will resume
in October 2009 and run through February 2010.

Why produce Hawaiian Red Veal?
First, it's a tasty and delicious alternative to beef, a natural
product, grass fed and free of any hormones or antibiotics. Second,
ranchers recognize that producing food in Hawaii for Hawaii
consumption is a good thing. If ranchers can take a 5 to 6 month old
calf and produce food instead of shipping the calf to a mainland feed
lot, wouldn't that be a good thing?

Producer: Hawaii Cattle Producers Cooperative Association
HCPCA is a member coop of 44 independent ranches statewide that
oversees transportation, marketing and other services in the interest
of raising beef cattle. It's primary function is to arrange for the
shipment of calves to mainland feed lots. Daleico Ranch in Ka‘u is the
first HCPCA member to participate in the Hawaiian Red Veal offering.

Questions?
Joan Namkoong, 887-6677 or 769-0696
HCPCA, Betty Spence: 885-5599