Grass Fed To Finished Beef

Farm Update –

Since the late 1990s, a growing number of farmers have stopped sending their animals to the feedlots to be fattened on grain, soy and other supplements.  Instead, they are keeping their animals home where they forage on pasture, their native diet. As a result, the animals grow at a natural pace. For these reasons and more, grass-fed animals live low-stress lives and are so healthy there is no reason to treat them with antibiotics or other drugs. This accounts for roughly 5% of the US beef market.

Factory Farming. Raising animals on pasture is dramatically different from the status quo. Virtually all the meat, eggs, and dairy products that you find in the supermarket come from animals raised in confinement in large facilities called CAFOs or “Confined Animal Feeding Operations.”  These highly mechanized operations provide a year-round supply of food at a reasonable price. Although the food is cheap and convenient, there is growing recognition that factory farming creates a host of problems, including:

• Animal stress and abuse

• Air, land, and water pollution

• The unnecessary use of hormones, antibiotics, and other drugs

• Low-paid, stressful farm work

• The loss of small family farms

• Food with less nutritional value.

Animals raised in factory farms are given diets designed to boost their productivity and lower costs. The main ingredients are genetically modified grain and soy that are kept at artificially low prices by government subsidies.

Factory farming accounts for about 95% of the US beef market of which 4-corporations control about 80% of the sales that you find in grocery stores, meat markets, restaurants, and etc.

A hybrid model that some farmers are now doing is raising beef on grass until the last 4-6 months before slaughter and then finishing the steer on grain. Thus, bringing in most of the factory farming health problems. Today, it is very easy to get to know your local farmer and to ask questions about his operation.

The Healthiest Choice. When you choose to eat meat, eggs, and dairy products from animals raised on pasture, you are improving the welfare of the animals, helping to put an end to environmental degradation, helping small-scale farmers make a living from the land, helping to sustain rural communities, and giving your family the healthiest possible food. It’s a win-win-win-win situation.

NGF would like to thank Jo Robinson and Eat Wild as the source of this information and the work they do to promote small farms.

Customer Feedback- 

This family owned operation is top notch! They raise grass fed pasture raised beef, chicken, and pork. You can tell the difference in quality grass fed pasture raised meat. It’s so much better for you and the way the good lord intended us to eat. The fact that they are right here in my home state makes it even better. I will continue to purchase all my meat and eggs from Ben and his family. J Maples

Quote Worth Re-Quoting –  "You, as a food buyer, have the distinct privilege of proactively participating in shaping the world your children will inherit." --Joel Salatin

As always, thank you for supporting our regenerative, local farm.

Ben & Beth