On the vegetarian issue, I have a sister-in-law that got on the vegetarian kick for a couple of years ago and was sick all the time, and looked terrible. She gave that up and says she hasn't felt so good as when she got back on a meat protein diet. Another goo one is a distant cousin of mine went on a vegetarian lifestyle, maybe 10-12 years ago and her teeth got worse and worse, her doctor told her it was her eating habits, she put on facebook that "thanks to being a vegan for so many years, she just got all her new teeth today". Don't get these GOOD testimonials to often from the press do we?
On the forum ??, I think that PETA is a top subject, but, quality control might be the top one. The consumer, mainly the housewife, is our #1 critic. We NEED to have a CONSISTANT, Quality product that the consumer can expect to get every single time. The poultry industry has kicked our rear on this. The pork industry is way ahead of us as well. We as beef producers have ALOT more variables to deal with, we don't have the ability to confine everything inside and control the eviornment. We also do not have the turnaround in the genetics that the other sectors have. If we put a product out there and the consumers have a consistantly good eating experience we are doing great great,but, when they have a bad experince, we all loose. Be it a overly dark piece of meat, tough, overly fatty, poor odor, sub par flavor,ect. that consumer is likely to by a boneless skinless chicken breast or a butterly chop for less money the next trip through the grocery store. Worst case is they get into an abcessed piece of tissue or find a needle.
I agree that we need to have POSITIVE slogan, the best way to do that is to join an organization that does promotion. In IA the Iowa Cattlemans Association does agreat job. They use checkoff dollars to help develop new products and markets but they can only do so much. I would encourage people to get involved and help make a difference. Membership dollars go to help lobby at the state levels to try to keep our legislators on track for passing laws.