Farming in Thailand

[Wj99]

Just a brief question really - I've only travelled Thailand for a month so far and seen very little in the way of farming, more so - livestock.

I've been told never eat the beef in Thailand, but I've seen many cows, but not a single pig even though everything is pork pork pork. I've only really been in the tourist areas so maybe that's a reason, but back home in the UK there is farming scattered in the urban areas - not much, admittedly, but even travelling cross country I have seen very little.

Any thoughts, and also why thai beef is so bad? Really curious

[pigeonjake]

i dont know why or who told you not to eat beef?

and there are many many pig farms in thailand, ive got one, go to the farming section of thai visa, there is a pig section, also a very good farm photo section, brillient pics of farm and farming

jake

[Wj99]

Thanks jake,

I've been told to avoid beef in the north because thai beef is poor quality and in the south because it's well known to often be off due to distances and to avoid due to the potential of sickness.

I have eaten beef a number of times until I read that review of the beef - my main stickler until then was that there was never enough (perhaps it's too expensive?)

[krisb]

Farms are everywhere in Thailand, you must be in the wrong areas.

Nothing wrong with Thai beef either.

[FritsSikkink]

in the south because it's well known to often be off due to distances and to avoid due to the potential of sickness.

I don't know who told you that but he / she is full of BS.

[thaipod]

KU , Chockchai and Thai Frech are local . They are good quality steak.

[willyumiii]

" I've only really been to the tourist areas"

BINGO!

I have seen a few bar girls who resemble cows and fat pigs...but not many.

There really aren't a lot of farms in the tourist areas.

Northern Thailand, the real Thailand for non tourists, is almost all farm land.

You will see large trucks loaded ( overloaded ) with fat pigs going to slaughter.

There are a fair number of cows to be seen and a lot of water buffalo.

Some claim that much of what is sold as beef is actually buffalo...I don't know.

I do find that most of what is sold as beef is very tuff.

This is due to the fact that for the most part, Thais do not age their beef before cooking it.

It does make a nice tasty stew if boiled and simmered for a while.

The pork too, is not aged.

You can buy pork still "blood warm " in most markets if you arrive early in the morning.

Come north next trip and look around, it's interesting, it's pretty country and...oh yeah...If you come for the pretty girls, most of them you meet in the "tourist areas" were born and raised here.

North of Bangkok, there is a large cattle ranch called "Farm Chokchai " that has beef and dairy cows, pretty Thai cowgirls and an interesting tour as well as a very good steak house!

I worked as a cowboy in California years ago on bth beef ranches and dairy farms and I know this is "the real deal".

[Wj99]

I've been to Chiang Mai and Pai, but that's pretty much it in the north - again touristy.

I find the beef incredibly tough but as many of you say, the taste/freshness is fine.

There just seems a lot of wasted space here, if the Thais are as poor as many make out, farming and food should be pushed by the authority power - however maybe like the USA where they pay farmers not to grow crop, maybe they need to keep a stable price here also. I have no idea of the extent of the farming in the northern parts.

I read recently that China rears more pigs than the next 43 pig producing countries combined, but there may have been a market for good quality beef here - it seems my ideas to make a good living in Thailand is getting harder with each idea going down in flames!

Didn't know pork was aged apart from bacon. I guess you learn something new every day.

[samuijimmy]

i dont know why or who told you not to eat beef?

and there are many many pig farms in thailand, ive got one, go to the farming section of thai visa, there is a pig section, also a very good farm photo section, brillient pics of farm and farming

jake

Here's the link to farm photos, that might help! ..... it gives 176 pages to date, of farm photos in many regions of Thailand, from Songkhla in the south to Chaing Rai in the north!

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/612480-farm-photos/

Obviously the OP is not getting out of the "city" much! .....In the Pai area for example there is a lot of farms surrounding the whole area ... mostly garlic from what I remember ....?????

"Beef" here does tend to be a little tough.... I don't eat it!