Our cattle are raised without hormones, antibiotics, animal byproducts or grain. They range free on our pastures which receive no herbicides or pesticides.
Feedlot cattle are finished on a grain diet that often contains corn and soy. They are also commonly given growth hormones and often are fed therapeutic antibiotics on a regular basis. This diet in combination with the growth hormones ensures a quick weight gain with a higher fat content in the muscle. Grass fed cattle in comparison grow at a natural and healthy rate without any artificial hormones resulting in a leaner animal. Over all the total fat content of grass fed, free range cattle is usually 25% lower than grain fed cattle (Duckett Study). The slower pace of growth of grassfed cattle means that we have to overwinter them an extra winter. This extra time means our feed costs are generally higher than that incurred by feedlots.
Grass fed meat is lean and therefore lower in calories than grain fed meat. According to a 2009 study conducted by the USDA and Clemson University, grass-fed beef is better for human health than grain-fed beef in ten ways:
1. Lower in total fat
2. Higher in beta-carotene
3. Higher in vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)
4. Higher in the B-vitamins thiamin and riboflavin
5. Higher in the minerals calcium, magnesium, and potassium
6. Higher in total omega-3s
7. Better ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids (1.65 vs 4.84)
8. Higher in conjugated linoleic acid
9. Higher in vaccenic acid ( a natural transfat that is important for good health unlike synthetically produced transfat)
10. Lower in the saturated fats linked with heart disease
Grass-fed beef is more than just tasty, it is a healthy way to eat!