Why organic grass-fed and grass-finished beef?

 

In addition to the incredible taste, there are many reasons to choose organic grass-fed and grass-finished beef. First, you may wonder why we emphasize both the grass-fed and finished terms to describe our beef.  This means that our cows have not only spent their lives grazing diverse pastures, they also were never finished on a diet of anything but fresh and dried grass (hay). Most cattle in the United States are fattened on grain and soy in confined conditions in feedlots or factory farms until they reach market weight.  Choosing the option of meat from cows who have lived outdoors and eaten a diet that their systems have evolved to thrive on, means not only health benefits for the eater, but also to our agricultural lands, water and our environment. 

Compared with feedlot meat, beef from 100 percent grass-fed cows has less total fat and fewer calories, and has more vitamin E, beta carotene, and vitamin C. Even though grass-fed meat has less total fat, it has higher levels of health-promoting fats, including conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA, which is believed to have cancer-fighting and fat-burning properties. It also provides more omega-3 essential fats that have anti-inflammatory properties.  There is plentiful research on the subject, some new research reveals that grass-fed meat also is higher in nutrients normally considered only found in plant foods such as fruits and vegetables.

Grass-raised animals are a better option for our environment as well. On well-managed pastures, the animals spread their manure evenly over the soil, where it becomes a natural source of organic fertilizer that improves the quality of the soil and the quality of the grass and other vegetation. Managed animal grazing builds organic matter in the soil, which leads to the soil retaining more water and increasing more carbon in the soil. 

Our goal is to raise animals exclusively on pasture living out their best lives as happy, healthy cows and to provide them with the most possible nutrition, with access to an array of diverse, nutritious plant foods. With access to healthy plants and water, our cows provide a source of delicious and healthful beef for eaters in Western Montana.