What Is Grass Fed Beef? Here Are The Facts You Should Know.
Inside: Wondering if grass fed beef is healthier than regular beef? Confused about how to read labels? Get the facts!
Last summer, I was invited to visit a cattle farm and a feedlot with the Ohio Beef Council. I’ll be honest: My first reaction was Why on Earth would I want to visit a feedlot?
Then I quickly checked myself. As someone who buys, cooks, and eats beef, I should see for myself where my food is coming from. And as a dietitian and blogger who fields a lot of questions from people about what kind of food to buy (including meat), it makes sense for me to know the facts.
So I went to the feedlot. And I found out that some things I thought I knew about cattle and beef were wrong, especially when it came to grass fed beef. Grass fed beef is something I’ve bought in the past from local farmers in bulk. I still do like buying meat in bulk and I still do like the flavor of grass fed beef. But it turns out that some of my thinking on the topic was a bit black-and-white.
After the visit, I spent a long time on the phone with Francis Fluharty, PhD, a research professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at The Ohio State University, to talk more about it. This post isn’t sponsored by anyone, and I wasn’t paid to write it. I just wanted to share what I learned so that if you buy and eat beef, you can be better informed when making decisions too.
What You Should Know About Grass Fed Beef
Fact: All cows eat grass.
Documentaries like “Food, Inc.” make it seem like some cattle spend their entire lives in a pen eating grain. I’ve also read articles online that compare grass-fed cattle to “cattle raised in feedlots”. But for the first seven months of life, all cattle are “grass fed cows”. They graze on grass, drink their mother’s milk, and spend a lot of time in pasture (I took the photo above at a conventional cattle farm here in Ohio). It’s only when they’re transferred from the pasture to the feedlot that they’re fed a diet that’s higher in grain (about 65-70 percent corn but still contains some hay and other forage) for the last 6-8 months of their lives.
Fact: “Grass Fed Beef” is not the same as “Grass Finished Beef”.
All cattle eat grass. If you want to buy grass fed beef from cattle that have spent their entire lives eating only grass, make sure you’re getting 100% grass-fed beef, sometimes called “grass finished beef”.
Fact: “Grass Fed” is not the same as organic beef.
Unlike conventionally-raised cattle, 100% grass fed cattle must have access to pasture their entire lives and be only pasture- and forage-fed (with no grain). But as with conventional, there are no restrictions on pesticide use on the farm or use of antibiotics. Likewise, beef labeled “organic” may come from cattle that were grain-fed too. If you want truly organic, 100% grass-fed meat, you’ll need to specifically look for those two labels.
Fact: 100% grass fed beef is hard for many farmers to produce.
Here in Ohio, farmers need 1-2 acres for every cow/calf pair they have. That acreage requirement goes up in other places–in some very dry areas of the Southwest, that may be 25 acres. While cattle that are also grain-fed go to market after just 13-15 months of life, cattle that are entirely grass fed take 20-24 months to be ready and result in lighter-weight cattle and less meat per animal. That requires an enormous amount of land and time, something that’s not feasible for many farmers. And in climates that have harsh winters (like Ohio), it’s impossible for cows to graze outdoors all year long.
Fact: Grass fed beef may not necessarily be healthier.
Is grass fed beef healthier than regular beef? It’s often cited for being richer in healthy fats. It’s true that cattle raised only on grass do produce meat that’s higher in CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), a fat that’s been studied for possible heart health benefits. Yet CLA is largely found in fat that many people trim off. CLA is also found in the fat that’s marbled throughout the beef, but grass-fed beef tends to be leaner, with less marbling overall than conventional beef.
Fact: “Food Inc.” doesn’t represent all farms.
Like most people, I watched “Food, Inc.” and was horrified by what I saw. But since then, I’ve had the opportunity to visit several different kinds of farms (both organic and conventional) and meet the people who run them. I’ve also been able to talk candidly with farmers, and they’re saddened by the way they’re depicted in that film and others. There will always be bad apples in every industry, but the farmers I’ve talked to care about their animals and want to provide good food for consumers. Get more facts: What Is a Factory Farm?
The Bottom Line on Grass Fed Beef
If you buy beef, buy the kind that you can afford and that tastes best to you (grass-fed beef has a slightly different flavor, though I like both). If you’re specifically looking for 100% grass fed beef or organic beef, read labels carefully.
I’m not sure what planet you live on. Most beef cattle in factory farms are torn from their parents at birth. Secondly, factory farms generally don’t even own land with grass. Mostly, they’re in places that are arid for long parts of the year. Look at google earth. I agree not all farms are created equal, but what they’re trying to publicize in that show is the horrors of factory farming. They’re not exposing the small farms – no need to.
Hi Steph–There’s a difference between the farms that the cows are first born on/raised on and the feedlots they are transferred to for the last portion of their lives. That’s something I learned on my tour and an important detail in this. I’m not sure about the separation/weaning process on dairy farms because I have not researched those yet, but calves on cattle farms are kept with their mothers for the first 7-8 months of their lives, then weaned and transferred to a feedlot for the remaining months. If you are upset by the conditions you’ve heard about or seen on large feedlots and want to either not eat beef or support smaller operations or 100% grassfed farms then you should absolutely do that. My post is meant to provide readers with information that will help them make informed decisions. I’m not pushing an agenda one way or another.
No it’s rare for calves to spend that time with their mothers. They can’t afford to have them bonding or they become a huge pain when separating. I needed to believe that for quite some time. It’s all a horrible industry. It’s key to talk to EX farmers. The ones who’ve made the connection and stopped being in denial with their cognitive dissonance. If they’re dying at less than a few years alone when have a life expectancy of up to 25-30 years, that alone should alarm us
Michelle–are you referring to beef or dairy cattle? I believe the operation is very different in terms of how much time the cow and calf spend together.
Thank you for having an open mind and exposing how most farmers( at least in Ontario) raise their beef. All the farmers I know raise their beef exactly as you describe and with care for both the animal and the habitat they are raised in. They take pride in the fact they are providing a quality product for people. All the farmers I know raise their young with their mother- which makes sense- it gives the animal the best start at life! Your reader should really visit a farmer and get the real picture not gulp down the media’s sensationalization of farming. That type media markets sensationalism and does not have an unbiased real review of the practice of animal husbandry practices by most ethical farmers because that does not sell. People need to do like you did and go to the source and find out for themselves. Thank you for having the curiosity and open mindedness to discover the truth.
Hi Lori–Thanks for your comment. I always love hearing from farmers on this. Really appreciate you chiming in!
It is a fact that much of our beef is raised in horrible conditions to retain profit margins. I try to find meat that is raised in a more ethical way. Factory farming is far from respectful and I cannot tolerate it any longer. I am happy that people are waking up and making decisions about their food.
I raise grass finished beef in northern California Big Creek Ranch in Hayfork California. I use no antibiotics or hormones and no chemical fertilizer. The response has been nothing but positive. I enjoy raising a high quality food products. I enjoy raising beef the way it should be raised. Thanks for the great post explaining the process.
On a dairy farm a male calf is not of much use so they are separated from their mother at birth and slaughtered. No way a dairy farmer is going to let a calf drink milk when that can be sold.
Wrong. No matter what size the farm is, beef calves are not “torn from their mothers” after birth. What would the benefit of that be?! Why would any farmer/ rancher want to take away free food for the calves produced by their mothers and buy very expensive calf milk replacer instead? The cow can still be bred back to a bull while she is nursing so that isn’t the issue. They aren’t dairy producers so that isn’t the issue. There is no earthly reason why the producer would do that. It is PETA propaganda.
Now, male dairy calves are taken from their dams and fed a milk replacer for two reasons. One, mom goes back on the milking line. Two, they are the primary use for the veal industry. If you want to be outraged , at least direct your anger properly.
Would we loose weight if we eat grass fed meat
If you eat only beef you will lose weight like crazy. And you won’t be hungry! It doesn’t have to be grass fed or finished though I’d recommend them instead. Fiber and sugars are the cause of our gut problems, and many of the diseases you see today. A carnivore diet keeps you amazingly satiated and healthy. Check out the book Fiber Menace.
April, Do you have a link or citation to support the claim that grass feed meat leads to weight loss?
Regardless, not everyone can eat grass fed meat. There is not enough real estate on the planet to raise all beef as grass fed (a misnomer in itself). .
If the price controls were removed from meat, there would be a huge shift to veganism. People simply would not be able to afford beef.
Hi Steph. I wanted to let you know that I lu e in the arid west in New Mexico. We have raised commercial beef for all my life and for more than 4 generations in the same ranch. Our cattle run out on pastures (over 3000 acres each) and eat grass year round. The calves are usually born in the spring March thru May in the pasture. We only pen the first time heifers in case they have problems calving. We wean the calves from their mothers the last week of October or first half of November. Our calves usually go on to wheat pastures until the following spring. At this point they are almost a year old and weigh close to 800-900 pounds. After that I believe they go to a feedlot for 90 -120 days to be finished. We are a small operation around 150 head of mother cattle and we stock conservatively at about 120 acres to the cow. I welcome you to come visit for a first hand view of how cattle are raised.
You are clearly forgetting about the animal and their living conditions! You are also omitting the stench for miles that the feedlot produces and that is healthy?
Hi Deanna–I deleted the last part of your comment because I don’t tolerate name-calling or offensive language in the comments (that is spelled out in my comment policy under “About This Blog”) but I did want to address the first part of your comment. If the living conditions of the animals on the farms or feedlots bother you, then you should trust your gut and not eat beef or support smaller operations. That’s absolutely your choice and I’m not advocating for one choice or another–just giving people the correct information and clearing up some common misconceptions for those who buy and eat beef.
Yay Sally for policing your blog comments! I am so tired of people having a platform and allowing people to cuss and argue within their comment section ! I truly believe that we all can voice opinions without being nasty and it’s such a shame that adults would act that way towards each other though it’s obvious that social media is erasing curtiousness and respect for fellow human beings. Love your blog!
Im researching this because 4 years ago i was diagnosed with being allergic to iodine and hashimoto’s mine is a rare case i am also allergic to thyroid hormones my thyroid has been removed
Back to the topic im try to find foods that i can eat that wont kill me i do know and understand there is no such thing as iodine fr33 but my allergists has recommended grass fed meats only im just looking to compare which has less iodine
You might also challenge people that rarely do people get sick from e-coli, from grass finished beef!
Cattles stomachs were not designed for all the grain they are fed, regular or organic. On our farm we
grass/forage finish and create a truly choice grade product for direct sale to folks who care about
the local smaller farm they help keep goin!
Loved this post! I, too, used to believe some of these inaccuracies… especially the part about more favorable fatty acids. I don’t eat beef for omega-3s. That’s what I eat fish for! I also appreciate your comment that not all farms are like those shown on Food Inc. I’ve met many farmers and ranchers and have been on both farms and feed lots. Animal agriculture (or really ag for that matter) is tough, hard work. It’s not easy and livestock – whether it’s two or 200 hundred cows – can at times be a messy business. I’m thankful the farmers and ranchers in this country do the work they do because I have no desire to start raising my own cows 🙂 Lastly, I think anyone who paints farmers and ranchers in the light of uncaring about animals should ask themselves why anyone would choose to make their entire lives about taking care of animals, if they didn’t actually like animals. The farmers and ranchers I know care deeply about their animals and their land. (And in full disclosure, I have in the past done consulting work for farmers and ranchers, but am not currently.)
Thanks Regan. These are good and important points and I appreciate you making them.
Generally, there are more omega 3s in grass finished beef (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2846864/) . The lipid profile is not just about having omega 3’s in the diet. When the omega 6:3 ratio leans heavily toward omega 6 fats, there is inflammation in the body (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6269634/). More Omega 6s in a disproportion to Omega 3’s is associated with higher mortality, cancer growth, asthma and other inflammatory related conditions. Looking at the way the US is leading the way in many inflammatory and lifestyle diseases, I’d say it’s worth considering switching to what is going to be the most beneficial.
Thank you for your post. I grew up on a farm and my dad loves his cows. He loves to drive out through the big green pastures where the cattle are and check on his cattle daily making sure they are ok. And if a mom can’t care for her calf for some reason, they are bottle fed and cared for until they are old enough to go out in the pasture on their own.
Thanks Jody! Great to hear that.
This was so informative, Sally. Thanks for sharing all of your research with us!
Thank you Gillian!
Thank you for researching this! I knew none of this and am curious to go back to the store and see what I have been buying – is it 100% grass fed or not.
Glad you liked it Noa!
Thank you so much for this post. It was very clear and informative!
Thanks Megan!
Great article Sally, it’s nice to see an open-minded article explaining the difference between grass fed and grain fed beef. There are a few points that I would like to add. As a family farmer that has been raising cattle for 20 plus years, my first priority is making sure the cattle are getting a balanced ration. They need more than just grass or grain to optimize their production. Vitamin and mineral packs and extra protein sources are available in many different forms to suit the farm’s production. Another point is that when you live in Ohio, grazing cattle for more than the summer months is a challenge. When the soil is saturated with water, just the cattle walking on the grass can destroy a pasture in a short period of time. One more point I’d like to make, the grain we feed(corn,barley,oats) are all seeds from grass. So wouldn’t that make all of our cattle grass fed??
I enjoy your columns and I feel like I learned some things. I appreciate your insight into nutrition because there are times when it feels very overwhelming making healthy choices for my family. Thank you!
Thanks for such an informative post Sally. I remember when I read Michael Pollan’s book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, one of the issues described with grain fed cows was that it caused health problems since it’s not their natural diet, which forced farmers to send them off to be “processed” at a younger age (before they got sick) and caused a vicious cycle. When you toured these farms, was that addressed or mentioned at all? If not, what are your thoughts on that? Propaganda? Truth? Something in the middle?
Sally
I appreciate your effort to look into the facts about beef production. While there are many opinions about beef and what type is best unfortunately very few are derived from education and experience. I agree that the consumer should decide what is best for them and their families. Unfortunately there many with the misunderstanding that grass fed beef does not have good flavor or cannot be tender. Many beef consumers think beef tastes like their favorite seasonings or steak sauce and have never paid attention to the flavor of the beef. It is true the grass fed beef is usually several months longer to finish. I believe that is where some of the flavor comes from. It is also true that cattle are not designed to eat grains and must be slowly introduced into their diet or they will get sick. All beef feedlots are not evil or dirty as seen in some documentaries, some are.
One note I would make about grass fed cattle in Ohio, they can be graised outside year round. I raise beef in Ohio and they are on pasture year round with hay (dry grass) supplied only as needed when the weather severe.
Thanks for your article.
I have been purchasing grass fed beef for a couple months now and it’s finished with carrots. I have a choice to purchase the beef finished with grain, but I chose not to. Is there such a thing as carrot finished grass fed beef.
Hmm, I haven’t heard of that.
Sally,
I loved this post and just wanted to drop by and say thank you for sharing your experiences, combined with your knowledge of dietetics and nutrition, with your audiences.
I like the differentiation you make between grass fed and grass finished. It’s interesting that cows eat lots of different things, but some cows can be on a diet of grass for their entire lives. My mom is really into nutrition and my dad loves to grill. I think they would really benefit from learning about the benefits of grass fed beef and where they can get a good product.
It’s interesting to learn about cows and what they eat. I like how you said that all cows eat grass, and it makes sense that their feed changes when they go to a feedlot. With this many different types of food, like grass fed, organic, and everything else, I’ll have to take more time to check for this.
Just my opinion but there are a lot of almost scare tactics by the left (tree huggers) & right (d-nile’rs). I used to work on dairy farms & would constantly hear people bashing their practices(antibiotics,h’mones n such), but nothing close to the truth. These peep’s “work” their asses off to bring a wholesome product to your fridge & what do they get for being responsible? bashed by folks. The husbandry was outstanding and they were paid xtra for good health reports from D.H.I.A. by major market chains. Alas many of these dairy farms are gone now because they could not survive going backwards financially after working 90+ hr. weeks just to be villainized, what an awful shame! “The farmer feeds us all”- Ryland P. Cooder
Rene I’m not sure if you have really thought that one through..? No factory should raise cows. Cows need to be raised in a PASTURE eating grass like they were intended. We are the only country that drinks milk the way we do. So you think the animals should suffer to fill your fridge.? It’s sad and pitiful for the animals that live that kind of life just so you can have cheese and yogurt. Could you imagine being in cow prison.? If you dont want to get on the milking machine that day they punch kick snap your tail and jab things into your side to make you do what they want you too. I’m against it all the way.! I love to see the small farms. They have less cattle so it’s not so overwhelming for them. Treat the animals the way you would want to be treated. Pretty sure we were all taught that at a young age.
Rene, where are we supposed to get the necessary real estate for every cow to live in a pasture? To meet current global demand for beef, we would need at least 3-4 more planet earths. What is your solution for that?
Great article. I am a 4th generation cattle rancher from Nebraska and can confirm your information is accurate. More people should take the time to correctly understand beef and for that matter all foods they eat. Others should not get lost in all the hateful and irrational comments to this article.
I think for some, the reason for grass-fed beef is that the grains are grown as GMO to withstand being drowned in herbicides, which you ingest when you ingest the beef. I did not see that addressed in your article.
Go to Moorman, Ky and drive down Moorman Cemetery Rd and about a mile down the road on the right and look what you see. Summer and winter those poor calves lived on that muddy lot with that muddy, slimy water hole. It is a shame for the calves and the environment. And that all washes down to the river. How much antibiotics do these animals get to keep from getting sick, but you do find a dead one every once in a while.
I grew up on our family’s home-grown beef in Alberta, then later moved to California. I love beef, but the beef I ate in California made me sick to my stomach every time I ate it, especially the high fat cuts like ribeye steak. I learned that the beef I ate there was primarily fed corn in the finishing months versus the barley-fed beef (never fed corn) I grew up with. I am allergic to corn. For me, it matters very much what the animal eats because of my extensive allergies.
A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to compare grain-finished beef (the cattle being fed primarily cottonseed meal while remaining on pasture and not in a feedlot) alongside grass-finished beef and the difference was huge in the amount and color of the fat. The fat on edge the grain-finished rib-eye steak was substantially thicker (probably about 1/4 inch or more) than the grass-finished beef. The color of the grain-finished was closer to white than the grass-finished (which leaned toward yellow). Also, the marbling was less on the grass-finished, than the grain-finished. In the pan of the grass-finished steak, the fat cooled and became solid faster and had a flavor closer to that of a game animal. My conclusion (developed over the course of 50+ years of eating beef almost every day): there is substantial difference between beef types, and it does truly depend on how the individual animal is raised and fed.
I believe each person is unique, not only in tastes and preferences, but also in needs. I do believe we need to be very careful to insist that one type of meat or diet fits all. I don’t believe we, in all our scientific studies, will ever know in absolute what is good for each individual. So, I say, eat, drink and enjoy the experience of food and the freedom to choose.
Oh, and by the way, our cattle live all year-round in pasture, with no antibiotics and no growth hormones. In the beef industry, as well as other meat industries, the use of medicines is very controlled. In most cases, when medicines are given to a sick animal, there is a withdrawal period in which the animal can not be sold for meat. In a USDA certified meat processing plant, testing is done to ensure the meat is free from harmful substances. You can trust the meat you purchase in the U.S. or Canada, whether it is finished with grain introduced to its diet or finished completely on pasture. If you want to learn more about the quality of beef, visit: https://www.bqa.org/about/what-is-quality-beef
What a horrible story you are telling, and you don’t even know it. I just want to point out one thing, which is pivotal, and should be known to every person claiming to be a “cattle” farmer: Cows eat ONLY grass and nothing but grass naturally. That is what nature designed them to eat and digest. NOTHING else is healthy for a cow to eat. I repeat: Nothing.
Next, how can anyone with a moral compass/conscience ignore that fact that a cow only gives milk when she has a calf? It’s the same for every mammal. No baby, no milk. So…. these “milk cows” are being kept pregnant all of their existence. Every year of their lives. How is that acceptable? And, the milk they produce for THEIR babies, is stolen from them so that humans can drink it. How is that alright? Is that who we are?
I don’t want to be part of this race if that is who we are. It is despicable and cruel, and it is 100 % unethical. It makes us into heartless, selfish monsters.
I raise grass finished beef in northern California Big Creek Ranch in Hayfork California. I use no antibiotics or hormones and no chemical fertilizer. The response has been nothing but positive. I enjoy raising a high quality food products. I enjoy raising beef the way it should be raised. Thanks for the great post explaining the process.
Loved this! Answered so many of my questions. Love your blog!
You said that the show was misinformation. She is saying you are wrong which you are. Small farms are usually ok it’s the factory farms that should be put out of business ASAP. You go Steph.!
Baby cows do not drink their mothers milk. The males are shot or raised for veal and the females go on to live the same miserable fate as their mothers. How would a baby cow get to drink the milk if the humans think it’s for them? I’d encourage you to get your facts straight. I couldn’t even read past that point. Cows have a very strong bond w their children and they are ripped away from each other. A dairy cow has one of the saddest lives of all animals people enslave, torture, and murder. Do you have any pets or children? What if they were in the animal’s position?.
Dana–Have you ever visited a beef cattle farm or talked with cattle farmers about how cattle are raised?
Sally, Yes, I have. But you should also visit a slaughter house to get the full picture on how a piece of beef makes it from farm to your plate. Only looking at the ‘farm’ aspect biases our thinking. It wasn’t until way after quitting meat that hypocrisy in how animals are treated got to the point it was impossible to ignore.
Cows are actually intelligent animals that have feelings. I play my guitar for the cows in the pasture that abuts my property and they love it. They sway and rock in rythm to music. They are quiet and focused during performance and only between numbers to they moo and shuffle around. They are more orderly than the typical people crowd.
For full disclosure, I used to be a big meat eater. But in my late 50’s health was quickly declining. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that more of the same is not going to generate improvement and making claims about individual nutrients is minutiae. We don’t separate out the omega’s from saturated fat when eating; eating meat is eating meat. What the meat ate makes little to no difference.
Of course everyone can do as they please… But let’s be honest. You sugar coated this so your readers could feel good about their choice. I come from a ranching family in the west.
Smaller ranchers are generally not the problem. They take are of their product and most appreciate the animal and do not torture it. But people want cheap beef, and in the process there are problems that will come back and bite us all in the butt someday. Antibiotics are necessary to keep the animal alive and “healthy” in their overcrowded lots. Think about it — live things standing around in feces is bound to breed disease. Animals roaming in a wider space do not. All so someone can have a Big Mac or a steak at a lower price. Antibiotics pollute the rivers along with the runoff from the feces and that too has a physical impact on your children — even if you don’t care about the humanity of the animals. Antibiotic resistance will effect your children, so if you care about them then you stop feeding your addiction to cheap meat. The need for cheap meat has led to the cutting of the rainforest. Loss of rainforests means loss of the oxygen producers. So all of this will someday effect your kids lives.
And we can afford it. Everyone can afford it. Eat a more balanced diet of beans and rice (meatless Mondays) and you can afford the better-for-you and the environment meats. My family eats well, can afford to have good grass fed (or let’s call it smaller ranched since in come parts of the country more grains must be fed) and frankly, you support a rancher to be well-heeled by not buying the big corporate feed-lot beef. And yes, corn is not a normal thing for cattle to eat so they shove a bunch of heavy pesticide corn in them to rise the selling cost and make it so they don’t move much — it has NOTHING to do with eating good beef — and you are eating a diet rich in bad fats, high pesticides, and high antibiotics.
And btw, the USDA is on the tit of big business… Lobbyists have changed what they find acceptable. So, kids have more disease, people have more heart problems, and we all develop more antibiotic resistance so someone can have a cheap burger. Not a good trade off.
This was a very interesting perspective. Thanks for sharing. It’s been a huge controversy for a long time that why in the US they feed cows chicken manure. The FDA has a comment about how they allow it as well. Do you know if these farms you went to do that or talked about why and if the side effects to humans that a lot of articles state are true? If a label says 100% grassfed can you be sure they aren’t also fed chicken manure?
Hi Shells–I’ve never heard of cows being fed chicken manure. It may be used to fertilize the crops that are fed to cows (such as corn and soybeans).
I have read your article with genuine interest and curiosity. Here is my comment: Looking at the physical treatment of the cattle is the smallest facet in the entire cattle farming process. We have to look at where the cattle’s food is being produced, and more so, how. Farmers are pushed to increase the yield per acre every year. And to do that, they douse the fields with ammonium nitrate and other artificial “cides” to control weeds and pests. They do this every year and have no rotational crops. The soil is so impoverished that nothing would grow there anymore without artificial fertilizer. The excess of those chemicals goes into our water table, into our rivers and into the ocean. It kills off all natural fauna and allows an algae type to take over invasively, which then kills off all other aquatic life in that water.
In other words, we are permanently damaging our Earth. Meanwhile the feedlots are drenched in animal feces and urine ponds, literally. This not only makes the cattle sick, when the manure dries in the summer and all these thousands of hooves stir up the dust. It also contaminates the soil and makes it sterile.
Cattle cannot digest corn, full stop. They were not built to eat corn, ever. Their stomach is not acidic as it needs to be for this feed. Thus, the cattle would eventually die from poisoning, if the vets there did not treat them constantly with antibiotics and anti flatulents and other horrible meds. The cattle suffer from these conditions.
I am leaving it at that. Anyone who wants to know exactly can take it up from here.
One more thing, though: There is the most important question of ethics. How can we as humans who for many of us claim to be Christians, live and eat meat from animals who have suffered at the hands of humans their entire existence, until they are killed in an industrial slaughter house? Is that the Christian way of life? I dare you all to say it is. This coming from me, who do not even claim to be a Christian. But, I have a healthy sense of c0nscience and an inner knowing compass of what is right and wrong.
You are what you eat…not just chemically, but also energetically. This is where the most damage is done to all of us, not just to the animals, but also to the human race. It makes me want to cry.
Thanks for doing your best to present a report on grass-fed beef to help us make better choices for our health. I’m sure there are more of us who didn’t comment but found the information useful. I’m sure it’s frustrating to see out-of-pocket insults in the comment section.
Their are some black Angus that are pastured for on to two days and then they disappeared and later another group shows up. is this grass feeding or finishing
is two day enough to call it grass feeding?
All beef cattle eat grass for at least part of the time, but if you want cattle that have just eaten grass and NOT been grain fed, look for “100% grass-fed beef” or “grass finished beef”.