Excerpts from the report: This publication reports on a study of five systems and their associated energy costs for marketing fresh beef from packer to retail display case. In addition to a breakdown of costs by system, tables show costs by category (packer, central distributor or processor, transportation, retail store) and by energy source (electricity, natural gas, diesel fuel). The amounts of energy used are shown in the same detail as costs. Energy is expressed as Btu's 2 per 100 pounds of salable retail beef cuts. Results were based on theoretical engineering analyses and numerous calculations involving data collected in the field, as well as several stated assumptions. Taken into account was energy used to run the equipment directly related to preparing, packaging, handling, and refrigerating the beef, and transporting it through the systems.