100% GRASS-FED BEEF | Major Smart, Skill Strong

A guide to choosing 100% grass-fed beef.

Conventional vs. grass-fed cattle differ by diet. Grass-fed cattle live on a native diet, while conventional cattle live on an unnatural diet.

CONVENTIONAL BEEF

The unnatural diet primarily consists of grains, such as genetically modified corn or soybeans. Sometimes, it also involves feedstuffs made from by-products and even chick manure.

Here “by-product feedstuffs” involves waste products from the manufacture of human food, which include:

High-fiber byproducts: such as beet pulp, orange peelings, brewers dried grains, dried cranberries, brewers wet grains, corn gluten feed, cottonseeds, distillers dried grains, distillers dried grains with solubles, distillers soluble, distillers wet grains, hominy, malt sprouts, soy hulls, and wheat by-products
High-protein byproducts: canola meal, corn gluten meal, cottonseed meal, linseed meal, soybean meal, soybeans, sunflower meal, blood meal, hydrolyzed feather meal, fish meal, meal and bone meal, poultry by-product meal, floor sweepings from plants that manufacture animal food
Unusual by-product feedstuffs: bakery wastes, beans, corn screenings, candies, soda crackers, fruit fillings, cherry juices, hot chocolate mix, crumbled cookies, ice cream sprinkles, breakfast cereal, trail mix, fat, liquid whey, nuts, pasta, peanut butter, peanut skins, potato waste, snap bean cannery waste, soy cakes, starch, sunflower seeds, sweet corn cannery waste, and vegetable tops and trims

As disturbing as it may sound, according to the Award-winning journalist Larry Olmsted, “it is not only legal to feed our beef the blood, fat, and feces of other animals, it’s standard practice.”

These feedlot diets can lead to a host of feedlot diseases, such as acidosis, Bovine Respiratory Disease or BRD, BSE (Mad Cow Disease), rumenitis, liver abscesses, bloat, feedlot polio, blindness, convulsions, and sudden death syndrome. Apart from the myriad of feedlot diseases, the crowded and often unsanitary living conditions in feedlots also expose cattle to various food-borne pathogens. These pathogens, including Campylobacter, E coli, and Staph, can pose significant risks to human health if meat is not properly handled and cooked.

To mitigate the risks associated with feedlot diseases and food-borne pathogens, feedlot cattle are routinely given low doses of antibiotics, chemical additives, and other drugs. The overuse of antibiotics in feedlot cattle contributes to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria – the superbugs that are difficult to treat. As the superbugs spread onto human beings, a greater population suffers the consequences.

GRASS-FED BEEF

Grass-fed cattle, on the other hand, eat what nature intended it – the grass.

Cattle thrive on the diet of grass. Their rumen – the large fermentation chamber within the cattle’s digestive tract, is biologically predisposed just for that purpose. Rumen is home to a complex microbial community, comprising bacteria, protozoa, and fungi. These rumen microbes possess the enzymes necessary to break down the cellulose and hemicelluloses in grass and turn these complex carbohydrates into volatile fatty acids (VFAs). Beyond the breakdown of cellulose, the rumen microbes are also capable of synthesizing essential amino acids, vitamins, and other nutrients in enabling the growth and development of cattle. Through this symbiotic relationship between cattle and the microorganisms cattle are able to derive energy and nutrients from plant components that would otherwise be impossible for human beings to digest.

Different diet leads to different fatty acid composition. Omega-3 fatty acids are naturally synthesized in the chloroplasts of green leaves and algae (Lustig, 2021). Grass, being a prime example of a green plant, contains a remarkable 60% of omega-3 fatty acids in its composition. By consuming green plants, grass-fed beef can yield 60% more omega-3s, two to three times more CLA, and a much more favorable omega-6 to omega-3 ratio in comparison to feedlot meat (Bowden, 2007).

And the nutritional benefits of grass-fed beef extend beyond fatty acid composition. When compared to feedlot meat, grass-fed beef also has three times more Vitamin E, seven times more beta-carotene, and more than half the Daily Value of zinc per 3-oz serving (Bowden, 2007).

By opting for grass-fed beef, consumers can harness the unique benefits derived from cattle’s natural predisposition to consume grass as their primary food source, leading to a more nutrient-dense and health-promoting meat option.

CHOOSING THE BEST BEEF

LOOKING FOR 100% GRASS-FED BEEF

But “grass-fed” doesn’t necessarily mean that grass is cattle’s only diet. In the U.S., “grass-fed” simply means the cattle are grass-fed at some point in their life, which every cow does, including the grain-fed cattle (Olmsted, 2016). In fact, most grass-fed cattle in the U.S. consume a combination of both grass and grains.

Grains can be the culprit for many concerns as mentioned above, especially when it comes to genetically modified grains. But even if we replace GMO grains with organic grains, the issues remain. For one, grains are not as nutrient-dense as grass (Bowden, 2007). The consumption of grain tends to yield more of the pro-inflammatory omega-6s and less of the anti-inflammatory omega-3s. For another, cattle are simply not biologically predisposed to eat grain (Adams, 2016). Grain has a higher carbohydrate content compared to grass. When cattle consume a diet with high levels of grains, they experience a rapid fermentation process, which results in an increase in lactic acid and a drop in pH. The drop in pH disrupts the microbial balance in the rumen and can lead to a condition called acidosis. Cattle experiencing acidosis may exhibit reduced feed intake, impaired digestion, and decreased nutrient absorption, ultimately impacting their growth and overall productivity.

Also important to know is that once cattle are taken off the grass and transferred to a feedlot with grain diet, their reserves of omega-3s start to deplete. Each day spent in the feedlot contributes to a gradual reduction in the cattle’s supply of omega-3s.

Therefore, whenever possible, go beyond grass-fed beef. Go for 100% grass-fed beef.

LOOKING FOR 100% GRASS-FED, PASTURE-RAISED BEEF

“100% grass-fed beef”, however, is not the same as “pasture-raised”. The USDA does not require “100% Grass Fed” beef to be pasture-raised. In fact, ranchers can feed their cattle hay in feedlots for their entire lives and still claim their cattle to be “100% grass-fed”. (Olmsted, 2016).

“Pasture” is apparently irrelevant here in defining this “100% grass-fed” claim. It is, however, an integral part of promoting the holistic well-being of cattle.

Pasture provides cattle with a diverse array of forages, including ryegrass, birdsfoot trefoil, bluegrass, timothy grass, orchardgrass, meadow feature, sorghum, Sudan grass, clover, alfalfa, herbs, and broadleaf pasture plants. This rich variety of forages ensures that cattle get access to a balanced and nutrient-rich source of food that far exceeds a diet primarily based on hay. By grazing on these diverse forages, cattle receive essential nutrients and experience improved overall health and productivity.

When allowed to graze freely in open pastures, grass-fed cattle experience a multitude of health benefits.

Open pasture and the consumption of a native diet contribute to the development of a healthy intestinal microbiome in grass-fed cattle. This complex microbial community within the cattle’s rumen thrives when provided with a diverse range of plant-based forages. The robust and diverse intestinal microbiome makes it possible to act as the cattle’s first line of defense against diseases and pathogens (Lustig, 2021).

Grass-fed cattle grazing in open pastures are less susceptible to diseases such as acidosis, bovine respiratory disease (BRD), bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), rumenitis, and liver abscesses. The diverse range of forages available in pastures, combined with a natural grazing pattern, supports healthy digestion and minimizes the risk of digestive disorders and related ailments.

Grass-fed cattle grazing on open pastures also become less receptive to pathogens, including campylobacter bacteria. The combination of a natural diet and access to open pastures promotes a healthy intestinal environment, creating unfavorable conditions for pathogenic bacteria to thrive. It, therefore, lowers the risk of pathogen-related diseases and contributes to overall herd health.

Due to their healthier environment and well-functioning immune systems, pasture-raised cattle rarely require antibiotics or other drugs. The low incidence of diseases and reduced pathogen susceptibility minimize the need for medical interventions. It thus reduces the risk of antibiotic resistance and the presence of harmful chemical residues in meat products.

Apparently, 100% grass-fed, pasture-raised beef provides a healthier and more sustainable meat option. Whenever available, look for 100% grass-fed and pasture-raised beef.

LOOKING FOR 100% GRASS-FED, PASTURE-RAISED BEEF WITH NO HORMONES OR ANTIBIOTICS

100% grass-fed and pasture-raised beef, however, does not guarantee that it is hormone-free or antibiotic-free. The USDA does not explicitly address the use of drugs or hormones for 100% grass-fed beef, although they do approve the label claims such as “no hormones administered” and “no antibiotics added” as long as meat producers can provide documentation in demonstrating that no hormones or antibiotics have ever been used in raising the cattle.

As such, it is essential for consumers to look for label terms such as “no hormones administered” and “no antibiotics added” when selecting 100% grass-fed, pasture-raised beef. These labels ensure that the beef has been produced without the use of hormones or antibiotics.

By selecting beef that is 100% grass-fed, pasture-raised, and free from hormones and antibiotics, consumers can enjoy the healthiest meat while supporting sustainable and ethical farming practices.

DISCLAIMER

This article is for informational purposes only. None of the information on this page constitutes or is intended to convey medical or purchasing advice. All statements and opinions are solely the expression of the author and are provided on an as-is basis. All readers/viewers of this article are advised to conduct their own research to verify the accuracy and relevancy of the information provided in this article. GenuiVn LLC is not responsible for the information and/or its accuracy or completeness.