tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24170237.post115104306176305532..comments2007-11-05T21:24:51.993+10:00The Old Foodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00766403052971301718noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24170237.post-70382512554888802582007-11-05T21:21:00.000+10:002007-11-05T21:21:00.000+10:00Much of the improvement of beef breeds and development of herd books occured in the latter part of the 18th century and into the mid 19th. This probably occured as part of the large changes that were occuring in British agriculture at the time and the development of markets, then the taste of the beef. If you look at patriotic pieces like Hogath's "Calais Gate"'or "O'the Roast Beef of Old England" (1748)(named after the song maybe) you can see that "British Beef" was a potent symbol well before many British beef cattle breeds were defined. Also interesting is that "roast beef" would have been cooked infront of a fire (on a spit) not baked in the oven, so in many ways we will never know what the "Beef of old England" tasted like.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24170237.post-14752172374136592432007-11-04T16:15:38.172+10:002007-11-04T16:15:38.172+10:00Hello Adam - I suspect, now that you have commented on it, that the famous breeds were developed in response to the love of roast beef, not the other way around. What do you think?<BR/>JanetThe Old Foodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00766403052971301718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24170237.post-82883875211678061422007-11-04T14:22:00.000+10:002007-11-04T14:22:00.000+10:00Janet- <BR/>very interesting post. I have akways thought that it is very curious that the reputation of British beef began well before the foundation of the various famous breeds of British beef cattle.<BR/><BR/>Adam BalicAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24170237.post-47139011241614868192007-05-16T06:58:28.390+10:002007-05-16T06:58:28.390+10:00Hello Anonymous - I must post the words of the song, and some note about its significance. As soon as I get time. Thanks for reminding me about it.<BR/>JanetThe Old Foodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00766403052971301718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24170237.post-43878921561539040642007-05-12T01:39:40.107+10:002007-05-12T01:39:40.107+10:00the above comment is also a songAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24170237.post-1165688772138067732006-12-10T04:26:12.136+10:002006-12-10T04:26:12.136+10:00When mighty roast beef was the Englishman's food, It enobled our brains and enriched our blood. Our soldiers were brave and our courtiers were good<BR/>Oh! the Roast Beef of England.<BR/>And old English Roast Beef!MoleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com