Grass-fed beef farms are increasing by day and the total land mass being converted to this form of farming too is increasing very quickly, and this has to do with increasing consumer awareness and environmental concerns related to industrial agriculture that has been attacked for focusing too much on profitability disregarding potential nutritional value that is lost in the process. Feeding cattle on grass however comes with many benefits some of which are discussed in this article.
The farms raising cattle on grass or pasture normally allow animals to forage over a vast land area. Through this method, cattle feed on their natural diet of grass and legumes making it the most humane way of raising animals. Through this method however, it is not easy for animals to quickly gain weight and farmers usually resort to art and science of raising pasture for animals. This requires very fertile soils and pasture maintenance skills.
The major attribute that attracts most consumers to beef products from cattle that are raised in grass farms is their nutritional value. The meat has lower levels of saturated fats and total fats in general. The cholesterol level and calories are also lower in quantities. Of major importance however are higher quantities of vitamin C and vitamin E that are recorded in meat products. Other beneficial attributes include higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, beta-carotene among several other nutrients.
In feedlots, the secret behind very fast weight gain lies in hormones and other growth supplements that these animals are fed on. These are obviously not good for your health, no one want foreign substances in their system particularly if such substances can influence your own growth pattern.
Most feed used for faster fattening in factory farms are unnatural and the major ingredients are genetically modified grains. In some cases, by products may also be used as feed all contribution to unhealthy beef full of hormones blamed for uncontrolled growth.
The statistics on the other hands tends to support farms feeding cattle on grass. The studies put the highest percentages of discovered cases of E. Coli and Listeria bacteria at about 58% in feedlots meat products with only 2% found on meat from cattle raised in open pasture. Other common bacterial diseases that is likely to be found in feedlot cattle products is campylobacter. These are serious infections that have led to recalls making headlines on newspapers.
Several studies carried out casts dark cloud on factory farming. The majority of cases of E. Coli and Listeria are observed in meat products from cattle raised in feedlots with reported cases of up to 58% of total beef while only 2% of meat from pasture fed cattle has been reported to have the bacteria that have led to recalls hitting headlines.
The standards of Animal Welfare Approved practices of husbandry, the cattle should be raised in very humane manner in conditions that are as natural as possible. This is hardly observed in feedlots.
The farms raising cattle on grass or pasture normally allow animals to forage over a vast land area. Through this method, cattle feed on their natural diet of grass and legumes making it the most humane way of raising animals. Through this method however, it is not easy for animals to quickly gain weight and farmers usually resort to art and science of raising pasture for animals. This requires very fertile soils and pasture maintenance skills.
The major attribute that attracts most consumers to beef products from cattle that are raised in grass farms is their nutritional value. The meat has lower levels of saturated fats and total fats in general. The cholesterol level and calories are also lower in quantities. Of major importance however are higher quantities of vitamin C and vitamin E that are recorded in meat products. Other beneficial attributes include higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, beta-carotene among several other nutrients.
In feedlots, the secret behind very fast weight gain lies in hormones and other growth supplements that these animals are fed on. These are obviously not good for your health, no one want foreign substances in their system particularly if such substances can influence your own growth pattern.
Most feed used for faster fattening in factory farms are unnatural and the major ingredients are genetically modified grains. In some cases, by products may also be used as feed all contribution to unhealthy beef full of hormones blamed for uncontrolled growth.
The statistics on the other hands tends to support farms feeding cattle on grass. The studies put the highest percentages of discovered cases of E. Coli and Listeria bacteria at about 58% in feedlots meat products with only 2% found on meat from cattle raised in open pasture. Other common bacterial diseases that is likely to be found in feedlot cattle products is campylobacter. These are serious infections that have led to recalls making headlines on newspapers.
Several studies carried out casts dark cloud on factory farming. The majority of cases of E. Coli and Listeria are observed in meat products from cattle raised in feedlots with reported cases of up to 58% of total beef while only 2% of meat from pasture fed cattle has been reported to have the bacteria that have led to recalls hitting headlines.
The standards of Animal Welfare Approved practices of husbandry, the cattle should be raised in very humane manner in conditions that are as natural as possible. This is hardly observed in feedlots.
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