As concern continues to grow regarding the safety of industrial raised livestock, interest is focused on grass-fed food as a replacement for potentially dangerous beef, pork, chicken, and turkey. Exactly why is grass-fed beef a better choice?

Reason 1 – Tampering With Nature

The processes that were once commonplace in the agricultural industry are disturbing. Cows were once fed meal made from the meat and bones of other cattle, often infected with mad cow disease. Herbivore animals intended by nature to consume grass were being converted unnaturally into carnivorous cannibals.

This process was banned in 1997 and instances of mad cow disease dropped dramatically, but testing in the U.S. is nowhere near as diligent as in other countries such as Japan. If it were, it is highly probable more cases would be discovered.

Cows were intended to graze on grass, not other cows, and tampering with nature in such a way is a recipe for undesirable results. Consider for a moment that some feedlot livestock is also fed “sanitized” garbage, candy, gum, food processing plant floor sweepings, bakery waste, starch, and pasta. Imagine the digestive system of an animal consuming these items that was designed to process only grass.

Reason 2 – You Are What You Eat

Grass-fed beef is a healthier choice in that it contains less calories and fat than industrial raised beef. It also contains Omega3 fatty acids and CLA, an acid shown in animal research to block all three cancer stages.

Cows raised in smaller numbers in cleaner pasture areas as opposed to unsanitary industrial feed lots are much cleaner when taken to slaughter. Because of the large quantities of livestock involved in the industrial slaughterhouse processes, the meat is more likely to come in contact with manure.

Reason 3 – Unnatural Hormones

In efforts to speed up the growth rate of cows and other livestock, feedlot operators rely on growth hormones. A chicken typically requires 3 months to grow to a 4-pound weight, but commercial growers have found ways to cut this growth time in half, but at what expense to the animal and the end consumer?

In an effort to “save money,” many of the birds on this “beefed up” diet die because their organs are not designed to handle this unnatural escalated speed of growth and development. The condition referred to as ascites actually costs the industry billions of dollars each year.

Better Choices, Healthier People

Consumers are wising up; people want healthier raised disease-free meat without the necessity for growth stimulants and antibiotics, and they are willing to pay more to get it. They realize their food dollar should bring more value to them in the way of safer and better tasting food, more vitamins, and healthy omega-3 fatty acids and CLA.