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 most important benefit of pasture fed cattle is the nutritional value associated with the resulting beef. The commonly sighted nutrition benefits include less saturated fat and total fat in general, less calories and less cholesterol. Vitamin C and vitamin E content is also higher. The same can be said of beta-carotene, omega-3 fatty acid and many other health promoting fats.
In order to achieve maximum weight with grass, the farmers need skills that cut across scientific knowledge and acquired art. The target is to raise healthy grass for animal to graze on particularly in months preceding slaughtering time. In order to grow such high quality grass and legumes, there must be proper land management practices and healthy soils. This is in addition to skillful pasture management that targets to utilize pasture when at the optimal growth stage.
Normally, raising thousands of cattle in feedlots where they are confined in concentrations and are shifted from natural grass diet to grains can results to stress. This stress can be the cause of a number of disorders including subacute acidosis that is very common and painful. In order to manage these conditions, cattle are given antibiotics and other chemical additives some of which are used by humans as medicines. When overused in feedlots, bacteria develop resistance and when these new strains of resistant bacteria infect humans, the medical options are few.
A common disorder resulting from stress is subacute acidosis that is very painful. Antibiotics and other chemicals are used to manage these conditions. The problem is that antibiotics are most likely to be misused and bacteria develop resistance to the drugs. The new strains of bacteria can be very difficult to deal with when they affect humans.
As already said, feedlots cattle are responsible for the highest percentages of E. Coli and Listeria, both which are bacterial diseases that are less noticed in grass fed beef cattle. Campylobacter bacterial is also most likely to be present in feedlot (58%) than pasture fed cattle with only 2%. This bacterial is known symptoms such as muscle pain, upset stomach, fever and headache.
The scientific research also concludes that allowing animals to forage over a vast piece of land is an environmentally friendly way of keeping cattle. It preserves soils and results to lower greenhouse gas emissions. It is also humane to animals and is recommended by the Animal Welfare Approved standards of animal husbandry practices.
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 most important benefit of pasture fed cattle is the nutritional value associated with the resulting beef. The commonly sighted nutrition benefits include less saturated fat and total fat in general, less calories and less cholesterol. Vitamin C and vitamin E content is also higher. The same can be said of beta-carotene, omega-3 fatty acid and many other health promoting fats.
In order to achieve maximum weight with grass, the farmers need skills that cut across scientific knowledge and acquired art. The target is to raise healthy grass for animal to graze on particularly in months preceding slaughtering time. In order to grow such high quality grass and legumes, there must be proper land management practices and healthy soils. This is in addition to skillful pasture management that targets to utilize pasture when at the optimal growth stage.
Normally, raising thousands of cattle in feedlots where they are confined in concentrations and are shifted from natural grass diet to grains can results to stress. This stress can be the cause of a number of disorders including subacute acidosis that is very common and painful. In order to manage these conditions, cattle are given antibiotics and other chemical additives some of which are used by humans as medicines. When overused in feedlots, bacteria develop resistance and when these new strains of resistant bacteria infect humans, the medical options are few.
A common disorder resulting from stress is subacute acidosis that is very painful. Antibiotics and other chemicals are used to manage these conditions. The problem is that antibiotics are most likely to be misused and bacteria develop resistance to the drugs. The new strains of bacteria can be very difficult to deal with when they affect humans.
As already said, feedlots cattle are responsible for the highest percentages of E. Coli and Listeria, both which are bacterial diseases that are less noticed in grass fed beef cattle. Campylobacter bacterial is also most likely to be present in feedlot (58%) than pasture fed cattle with only 2%. This bacterial is known symptoms such as muscle pain, upset stomach, fever and headache.
The scientific research also concludes that allowing animals to forage over a vast piece of land is an environmentally friendly way of keeping cattle. It preserves soils and results to lower greenhouse gas emissions. It is also humane to animals and is recommended by the Animal Welfare Approved standards of animal husbandry practices.
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