Grass-Fed Meat

Grass-fed vs. grass-finished meat? What’s the difference?

The typical process for industrial feedlot beef is to raise cows on grass for most of their lives and then ship them to a feedlot for grain fattening the last few months of their life.  So it can be said that even feedlot cows have been “grass-fed” during part of their lives. Some companies have been known to market their feedlot beef as “grass-fed” because it is true that they can say the animal was fed grass during part of its life.

By contrast, we feed our cows grass through their whole life.  We call this “grass-finishing”.  Our cows are never fed grain during any part of their life.

Why grass-fed meat? Why is it so special?

Ruminant animals like cows and goats traditionally eat grass.  Their digestive systems were designed to process grass, not grain.  So when they eat grass, they don’t get sick.  Plus their meat contains the proper ratio of fatty acids and nutrients that our bodies need.

By contrast, factory cows are fattened on foods (corn, grain and various by-products) that disrupt their digestive processes and make them sick. They are given growth enhancers so they mature more quickly. And they are given routine antibiotics to keep them alive while eating inappropriate food and living in filthy, crowded conditions.

When compared to industrial beef, grass-fed beef is a much healthier food for humans. In Pasture Perfect, Jo Robinson concludes that grass-fed beef has:

• Less overall fat
• Fewer calories
• More omega-3 fatty acids
• A healthier ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids
• More CLA
• More vitamin E
• More beta-carotene

For more complete information on the health benefits of grass-fed beef, go to www.EatWild.com and click on “Health Benefits.”

What’s the problem with feedlot beef?

All cows start out eating only grass, their natural diet. However, most cows end up eating non-traditional, harmful foods.

The difference comes during the finishing process.  Industrial cattle are sent to feedlots to be “finished” (fattened for harvest). They’re also given hormones to speed growth.

• Feedlot cattle are fed corn and grains, which they can’t digest and usually make them sick. This is true even if the corn and grain is organic.
• They’re also fed industrial/agricultural by-products.
• They live in unsanitary, crowded conditions, and are highly stressed.
• Because they’re unclean and compromised, feedlot animals are given routine antibiotics.
• Because of all of this, their meat loses its nutritional value for humans.

By contrast, our cattle eat only grass. They’re grass-fed and grass-finished.

• They live low-stress, outdoor lives in clean, sanitary, healthy conditions.
• They never eat corn or grain. They never eat agricultural or industrial by- products.
• They never receive hormones or routine antibiotics.

This means that our beef tastes delicious and has the full mineral, nutrient and omega-3 fatty acid profile typical of pasture raised animals. Our meat is good for you.

When you buy any kind of grass-fed meat, dairy, or eggs, you’re making a contribution that’s much greater than you might know.

In addition to getting real food, you support an agricultural model that’s increasingly rare in the US:  the non-corporate, family-owned farm. (Before World War II, 98% of the U.S. population farmed; now less than 1% does.) And you support sustainable agriculture, the environment, humane treatment of animals, and the good health of your family.