Human Health
Choosing grassfed meat assures you of the most densely nutritious protein available. Higher CLA ( conjugated linoleic acid) counts, balanced omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and more antioxidants and vitamins than grain-finished meat assures a heart-healthy fat source for your diet that contributes to your over-all well being. Choose grassfed for your health ~ but be delighted by the taste.
Low in Fats
sirloin steak from a grass-fed steer has one third the amount of fat as a similar cut from a grain-fed steer - putting it on par with skinless chicken breast. A 6 oz. 'salad-bar' steak has 100 fewer calories than a 6 oz. feedlot steak.
Vitamin - Rich
Grain alters the rumen of cattle so that absorption of vitamins are partially blocked. Grass-fed meat has significantly higher levels of fat-soluble vitamins A, E and D compared with grocery store feedlot beef - twice as much vitamin A and four times as much vitamin E.
High Omega-3 levels
Even conservative nutritionists call for a doubling of intake of omega-e essential fatty acids in order to restore the gross imbalance in the ratio with omega-6s. Meat raised on grass has an omega-3 to omega-6 ratio very close to 1:1 - the ideal balance!
CLA in Grassfed
Conjugated Linoleic Acid is a potent anticarcinogen in animal research and associated with decreased cancer risk in several human epidemiological studies. In nature, it is found exclusively in the meat and milk of ruminants - but in significant amounts only when these herbivores are on fresh pasture.
Animal Health
Animals on pasture are free of the stresses of confinement operations. Outside, in fresh air and sunshine, they are free from breathing the clouds of fecal dust that mark conventional feedlots. Allowed to forage in managably small groups, they have room to express the dominance and group dynamics particular to each species. These animals are contented. Choose grassfed for animal health.
Natural Eating Schedule
When allowed to range freely, cattle graze for 8 hours out of every 24 including a twilight grazing period. Early evening means more moderate temperatures, less persistent flies and grass tastes sweeter ( actual higher sugar levels in the leaves). Most feedlot cattle are fed in the morning and have nothing to eat when their instincts tell them to graze. This may result in aggressive shoving and pushing behaviour that can raise fecal dust levels above safe levels - for both animals and feedlot workers.
‘Phoney’ Beef
Once a ruminant is already away from its natural grass diet, it seems the sky is the limit in terms of adulterating its nutrition. How else to explain at least 3 dubious industry feeding trials on feedlot cattle that saw experimental groups fed recycled phone books, pot scrubbers or stale chewing gum ( complete with aluminum wrappers). All three experiments reported positive results in terms of weight gain. None discussed the health of the animals themselves
Freedom from Feedlot Disease
A common feedlot disease is called Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD). In one 1999 study, more than half of the healthy calves shipped to a typical feedlot were diagnosed and treated for BRD at least once in a 155 day period. Even more disturbing, at slaughter 37% of the animals not diagnosed had lung lesions characteristic of the disease.
Decreased Heat Stress
July and August are high-risk months for cattle in feedlots as the heat, humidity and long hours of sunlight can result in a four percent mortality rate. Animals are standing on concrete, dirt and manure which trap heat making it 8 degrees hotter than a natural, pasture environment.
Let Then Eat Grass
A veterinary journal reported on one incident in which cattle in a particular feedlot were accidentally fed a diet deficient in Vitamin A. The animals suffered convulsions and blindness. Interestingly, a second group of animals on the same vitamin-deficient ration were free of symptoms. Researchers discovered this second group had been able to forage on the sparse weeds and grasses along their fence row. Even these meager gleanings were enough - think if they'd been on pasture !
Ecological Health
Grassfarming means that legumes and grasses are continually being cropped by grazing animals. This pulsing and growth of plant root structures adds to tilth and fertility of the soil. Manure is spread thinly over the entire sward and incorporated at source to feed bacterial soil life. And permanent, healthy pastures are a more effective carbon sink than forested areas. Choose grassfed for ecological health.
Carbon Sink
Grasslands are essential elements in our battle against the greenhouse effect. This carpet of chlorophyll acts as a carbon sink as well as forming a protective seal over the carbon in the soil. In fact, when rotationally grazed, pastures are a more efficient carbon sink than forests. This carpet of chlorophyll acts as a carbon sink as well as forming a protective seal over the carbon in the topsoil.
Global warming
Grassland farming has a modest ecological 'footprint'. This low input, low-petroleum, chemical-free, no-till style of food production creates far less carbon dioxide than industrial agriculture - the leading culprit in global warming.
Petroleum Beef
By the time you cut into a grocery store steak, its production has gobbled up enormous amounts of petroleum. First, grain production, itself, burns up large quantities of fossil fuel. Then, 85% of Canadian beef is trucked to 'feedlot alley' in Alberta to be fattened and slaughtered before being shipped back to population centres. Beef travels more than the farmers that produce it! Conventional feedlot beef requires 35 calories of fossil fuel to create 1 calorie of food. Pork’s ratio is even worse, 68 to 1. Grassfed meat restores efficiency by slashing grain, transport, fertilizers and chemicals and using pasture as a giant collector of solar power.
Clean Water
70% of the world's water is used for agriculture. Constant overproduction of crops - including the grain grown to feed cattle - has left soils so worn out and depleted or organic matter that they are unable to retain water. Runoff from croplands leeches fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and other chemicals back into our fresh water supply. In sharp contrast, grassland farming produces a lush turf that acts both as a sponge to retain moisture and a filter to clean the ground water.
Enriching the Soil
Grassland farming regenerates the soil by protecting against erosion while simultaneously enhancing fertility. Permanent pastures do not require tilling and so do not contribute to the depletion of topsoil. legumes and grass roots add nitrogen and increased organic content to the soil, especially when managed by systematic rotational grazing.
Low in Fats
