Grass Fed - Grass Finished vs Conventional feedlot beef
Folks - this just isn't normal!!!For starters, God created cattle to graze – and gave them four stomachs so that they are able to do something only heribvores can do – thrive on forage. They have a digestive system which allows them to consume grass, legumes and forbs and convert that into meat and milk, something that you and I can eat and thrive on.
Feeding cattle grains is not normal. Their digestive system pH changes and as a result the qualities of the meat and milk they produce changes – it is different than the meat from a grass fed – grass finished animal. Another issue with the feedlot approach is that our ‘main line’ agricultural system has resorted to feeding cattle antibiotics in an attempt to keep them healthy – so when you are eating meat produced in a feedlot – you are also ingesting antibiotics – which you probably would do better to not eat. |
So what are some of the differences?
Omega 6 / Omega 3 fatty acid ratio -Meat from grass fed animals will have between 2 and 4 times more Omega 3 fatty acids than comparable meat from animals which have been raised on grain. Omega 3’s are the ‘good guys’ in the world of fatty acids – and are contained in such foods as sea food, flax seeds and walnuts. Estimates are that prior to the industrial revolution our forefathers consumed a diet with approximately a 1:1 ratio of Omega 6 : Omega 3 fatty acids. This diet resulted in relatively little heart disease, cancer or diabetes. With the advent of the industrial revolution consumption of vegetable oils and an increase in feeding cereal grains to domestic livestock (which became the meat consumed by those in society) this ratio shifted significantly. Estimates of the ratio of Omega 6 : Omega 3 for the common diet consumed today is as high as 20:1. Conjugated Linoleic Acid -
This is another good fat – one which has been identified as potentially one of our most potent defenses against that dread plague of the 20th century - - cancer. Again comparing the grass fed – grass finished beef to beef from animals fed the traditional grain heavy diet, the grass fed beef will contain from 3 to 5 times more CLA.
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As a simple way to keep in mind the overall impact of this ratio is to remember that Omega 3 acids help to reduce inflammation while Omega 6 fatty acids tend to promote inflammation. Increased inflammation is tied to atherosclerosis and the increase in risk of cardiovascular disease.
A fellow grass fed - grass finishing farmer from Wisconsin had tests performed at Iowa State University on three samples of grass fed – grass finished beef (ribeye steak) and one sample of grocery store purchased grain fed ribeye steak. Keeping in mind that a 1:1 or 1:2 ratio would be considered very healthy, the test results showed his three samples run 1:1.3, 1:1.4 and 1:1.52. The grain fed steak was 1:17.3. That is not even close enough to consider it a comparison. The CLA evaluation is done in milligrams and the three grass fed samples from Wisconsin ran 22.3 mg, 20.6 mg and 20.0 mg. The grain fed sample came in with 11.0 mg. That puts the grass fed – grass finished at nearly twice the CLA as the grain fed sample.
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Lower in fat / calories -
For starters grass fed meat, eggs and dairy is normally lower in fat and calories than those produced from traditionally raised animals. Because the meat from grass fed animals is lower in fat than traditionally raised beef – it is lower in calories. Fat has 9 calories per gram where protein and carbohydrates only have 4 calories per gram. Reduce the fat and you reduce the calories.
The grass fed - grass finishing farmer from Wisconsin testing at Iowa State University saw some pretty amazing results when the fat content was compared between the four samples: the fat content of the three grass fed ran 3.7%, 3.1% and 2.1%. The grain fed steak was 15.1%.
The grass fed - grass finishing farmer from Wisconsin testing at Iowa State University saw some pretty amazing results when the fat content was compared between the four samples: the fat content of the three grass fed ran 3.7%, 3.1% and 2.1%. The grain fed steak was 15.1%.
Vitamin E -
Beyond the Omega 3 and CLA benefits, grass fed – grass finished beef will commonly be up to 4 times higher in Vitamin E than traditionally fed beef. Vitamin E has been linked to a decrease in both cancer and heart disease in humans.
You need to check out the facts yourself - see what you find!!
Ultimately with all of the claims made by both sides of the spectrum your best overall defense if to know your farmer – and understand the protocol they use to raise their animals. Meat can be fed grain and still meet organic protocols - and so be labeled "organic" – and your Omega 6 : Omega 3 ratio will be changed – even with organic grain. Does your source regularly use injections – either antibiotics or hormones as part of their system?
You can find and enjoy beef which is significantly healthier than the ‘store bought’ variety – if you do your homework!!
You can find and enjoy beef which is significantly healthier than the ‘store bought’ variety – if you do your homework!!
Resources to refer to:
The three sites listed below provide excellent information on grass fed beef.
The EatWild website has a good deal of information on the health benefits of grass-fed products:
http://eatwild.com/healthbenefits.htm
A Clemson University study comparing a corn silage finishing system to a pasture finishing system contains some very specific information on the fatty acid composition, the CLA content and the n-6 : n-3 ratios:
http://www.animalsciencepublications.org/publications/jas/pdfs/87/9/2961?search-result=1
Health.com also provides good background on the health benefits of eating grass-fed beef:
http://www.health.com/nutrition/grass-fed-beef-tips
The EatWild website has a good deal of information on the health benefits of grass-fed products:
http://eatwild.com/healthbenefits.htm
A Clemson University study comparing a corn silage finishing system to a pasture finishing system contains some very specific information on the fatty acid composition, the CLA content and the n-6 : n-3 ratios:
http://www.animalsciencepublications.org/publications/jas/pdfs/87/9/2961?search-result=1
Health.com also provides good background on the health benefits of eating grass-fed beef:
http://www.health.com/nutrition/grass-fed-beef-tips