Angus Beef

Matthew Yglesias takes a shot at Angus Beef:

Restaurants & Institutions magazine delivers the chart copied above offering restauranteurs advice on what makes consumers think of a "premium" burger that's worth paying "premium" prices for. The funny one on the list, to me, is the premium halo accociated with angus beef. Angus is the most common cow breed in the United States, and nothing special. The actual regulated indicators of quality are the USDA beef grades that have nothing to do with breed. Choice is better than Select and Prime is too good to be wasting on a hamburger.  

The man has a point.  When Holstein steers qualify as Angus beef, because it is a mostly black hide, you know something is wrong with the standard.  All-in-all though, the American Angus Association has to be pleased with the marketing success.