I feel like one of the best things I've done for my family in an effort to be healthier and promote an organic lifestyle is switch to grass-fed meat. I haven't purchased meat from any grocery store since last year. I've been able to get all the chicken and beef I need from the farmers' market.
Grain-Fed
The conventional beef that you buy at a supermarket probably comes from a factory farm. On these farms, the cows are crowded in a feed lot where they eat grain. It is mostly genetically modified corn and soy that has been heavily sprayed with pesticides. This makes the cows really fat, really fast. When they are sent to the slaughterhouse at the age of 14-16 months, the cows weigh about 1,200 pounds.
The cows are irritated and stressed because they can't move around naturally. In such tight conditions, they have no choice but to stand in their own manure all day. They're dirty when they go to slaughter, and some of that manure ends up in the meat supply. This increases the risk for E. coli, which is a food poisoning that can lead to sickness or even death. A grain-fed cow is already at an increased risk for carrying E. coli because their stomachs must create more acids to digest grains which are unnatural to a cow's diet. Mad cow disease is another health risk if the animals are given scraps to eat which may contain other animal parts.
Furthermore, because these cows are dirty and sick from eating food that they otherwise wouldn't eat, they must constantly be given antibiotics to keep them alive. The overuse of antibiotics in the food supply lowers our resistance to them when taken for medical reasons.
Organic
At some grocery stores you can find organic beef, which gives the consumer a false sense of security. Organic beef is fed grain. The difference is that the corn and soy are organic. I personally see little advantage to eating organic beef.
Grass-Fed
Grass-fed beef comes from cows that are pastured. They are free to roam and eat grass all day, and they are not given antibiotics. The cows are not ready for slaughter until about 2 years of age because their diet contains less fat, and they get exercise from moving around so much. Mad cow disease is not a factor because their natural diet does not contain animal proteins. The risk for E. coli is significantly lower because the animals are cleaner and they have low levels of only natural acids in their stomachs.
Grass-fed beef is lean and healthy. Natural beef contains higher levels of Omega-3 fatty acids and CLA (conjugated linoleic acids). The human body does not make Omega-3s so you must get them from your diet. Omega-3s are important for the prevention of arthritis, heart disease, and cancer. CLAs help combat cancer, inflammation, high blood pressure, food-related allergies, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Grass-fed meat is also lower in overall fat and in saturated fat, which can lead to heart disease.
Grass-fed meat is a step beyond organic. Producing this meat is more environmentally friendly. Putting animals out to pasture with room to roam decreases soil erosion. The cow manure doesn't build up in a small area like on a feed lot; instead it is spread out all over the field where it can be used as fertilizer.
Finally, grass-fed beef tastes really good. It's honestly some of the best meat I've ever had. In buying grass-fed beef, I know I'm promoting small farming, environmental sustainability, happy animal welfare, and good health.
Update: Because of all the comments I've been getting today, I e-mailed my local meat vendor to ask about grass-fed beef. Here is part of the response from James at
Wichita Buffalo Company.
Let me give you my definition of grass fed:
- Never, ever any feedlots. They are nasty and inhumane. Actually feedlots, in my opinion is where all the damage is done. If you can avoid feedlots, you can avoid 99% of the problems for all the reasons you defined in your blog: unhealthly living conditions, growth hormones, and antibiotics in the water and feed.
- Always provide full access to grass or pasture. They are never confined.
- We do not finish on grains as many people do. This is to introduce more fat into the meat to make it more tender.
- Provide any additional supplemental minerals and proteins, i.e., feed, necessary to ensure good nutrition.
We also provide a special low protein ration made up of wheat, corn, and soybean meal. It is not cake or cubes like most cattle people out here use to feed in the winter. When we do feed, we always feed in troughs to prevent infestation with parasites which are carried through the ground. The feed is not organic. It is grains raised by other farmers. Organic feed is another one of those fads which certain people latched onto a few years ago, much like organic milk. As far as I am aware, you can not buy organic cattle feed in Oklahoma. And, if you could, it would be extremely cost prohibitive.
We typically slaughter at about 20-24 months of age which allows greater flavor in the meat.
But, now, you need to think about drought. Times when it does not rain for months. A period when there has been less rain than the dust bowl. Well, that is what it has been like this past fall, winter and spring. There is no grass. So, we have had to provide lots of hays and feed which makes it very expensive to survive.
We did get a shower last week, but not enough to yet make any difference. So, this is the real world.
We strive to raise our animals in as healthy manner as we can and I believe we do a pretty good job given the circumstances.
Further Update: I joined the Oklahoma Co-op and now have access to 100% grass-fed beef! Although I applaud the efforts of the Wichita Buffalo Company, I began to be less than impressed with the amount of grain they were feeding. It is possible to feed grass all year, regardless of climate or weather, using a form of rotational grazing called Management Intensive Grazing (MIG). After speaking with the rancher who raises 100% grass-fed beef, I felt this was the right choice for my family. It's healthier, and all the cuts I have prepared so far have been of exceptional quality and incredibly delicious!
