GRASS FED VS. GRAIN FED BEEF
GRAIN FED BEEF IS NOT HEALTHY.
Feedlots are pictured at left. This is where your grocery store beef, fast food beef, and likely your restaurant beef comes from. Up to 100,000 cows are concentrated in a small area where they spend 50% of their life.
FACTS ABOUT FEED LOTS
1. CATTLE ARE MEDICATED.
When it is dry, the manure dust fills the air contaminating the air they breathe. When it is wet, they are standing in their own manure. Manure cakes their hides. To combat these filthy conditions, they are often fed antibiotics. Some antibiotics are fed for the sole purpose of animal weight gain. Over administering animals antibiotics is causing bacteria to become resistant to the drugs.
2. CATTLE ARE INJECTED WITH HORMONES.
Most have hormones implanted - testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone to help them grow fatter faster.
3. CATTLE ARE FED GRAIN.
Feedlot cattle are fed mostly corn and soybeans to grow fatter faster. Because of their diet, the pH of their stomachs is lower. This has led to a new strain of e-coli bacteria (E. coli O157:H7 discovered in 1982) which can survive in low pH environments such as the human stomach. It originates from cow manure and contamination is possible when cattle are processed from feedlots where their hides are covered in manure before slaughter. Feedlot manure spread over vegetables creates potential for contamination. Cows fed grain are 100 times more likely to have the dangerous E-Coli O157:H7 in their digestive system.
4. GRAIN FED BEEF ISN'T GOOD FOR YOU.
The goal of the feedlot is to pack the pounds on cattle as quickly as possible. They are fed an equivalent diet to humans eating fast food for every meal. Studies have concluded that these cattle have 40% more calories, double the fat content, up to 40% more cholesterol per serving, and have reduced vitamin levels. Calories without nutrients are causing obesity and disease in the United States.
5. CAFOs ARE BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Large concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) are terrible for the environment. The smell of these operations is your first clue. When animals are raised in dirty environments, they stink. Manure lagoons create a toxic breeding ground for deadly pathogens and a toxic waste problem.
THE GRASS FED DIFFERENCE
Enjoy some pictures from our farm at right. Our cattle are born and raised on our farm so we can positively know how they were raised and what they ate.
FACTS ABOUT SORRELS BEEF COMPANY
GRASS FED BEEF
1. CATTLE ARE NOT MEDICATED.
Our animals develop a healthy immune system and do not require antibiotics.
2. HORMONES ARE NEVER ADDED.
Although it takes us longer for our animals to get to butcher weight, we just don't think adding hormones is a good idea.
3. CATTLE ARE FED GRASS.
Each day when the pastures are growing, we evaluate when it is time to move our cattle to a new paddock. They get a new "salad bar" of various grasses and legumes and this gives nature time to naturally sanitize the last pasture. When the grass stops growing, they eat dried grass - hay.
4. THE BEEF IS BETTER FOR YOU.
Grass fed beef offers 7 times more beta-carotene, 3X more folic acid, up to 6X more Omega-3s, 40% fewer calories, and half of the fat of grain fed beef. Grass fed beef has 3-5X the conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content which is proven to combat cancer. See Dr. Mercola's write up on the difference. Our grass fed beef never has anything added such as ammoniated meat filler (pink slime) present in up to 70% of grocery store ground beef.
5. GRASS FED BEEF IS GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Managing cow grazing is good for the environment. Grazing stimulates grass growth and the grass removes CO2 from the air. In addition, the cow fertilizes the grass which further improves the cycle. Studies have shown that most food travels by truck, train, or plane over 1,500 miles to reach your plate. Buying local grass fed products minimizes your carbon footprint.
