The meat is eaten raw as all meat was eaten in the distant past--symbolizing the spirit of "returning to the source and restoring ancient ways" mentioned in the Book of Rites.
祭牛以生食為祭，象徵人類對於遠古時期茹毛飲血生活的追念，含有一份《禮記》所說的「反本修古」的精神。