...Because
it tastes good
Meat from grass-fed animals is rich in flavor,
because the animals have been eating what nature
intended for them to eat. Grass-fed meat is
usually dry-aged, which enhances the flavor and
tenderness.
...Because
it's good for you
Meat from grass-fed
beef, bison, lamb and goats has little total fat,
saturated fat, cholesterol, and calories. It also
has vitamin E, beta-carotene, vitamin C, and a
number of health-promoting fats, including omega-3
fatty acids and “conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA.
All this can help to reduce cholesterol and the risk of diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure and other life threatening diseases.
Grassfed beef is low in saturated fat, cholesterol and calories.
...Because
it's good for the animals
Animals raised free-ranging live happy and healthy lives.
Farmers and ranchers who raise grass-fed
livestock do not treat their livestock with hormones
or feed them growth-promoting additives. As a
result, the animals grow at a natural pace.
...Because it's good for the land
Raising animals on pasture requires knowledge
and skill. For
example, in order for grass-fed beef to be succulent
and tender, the cattle should forage on
high-quality grasses and legumes. Providing this nutritious
and natural diet requires healthy soil and careful
pasture management so that the plants are maintained
at an optimal stage of growth. Because high-quality
pasture is the key to high-quality animal products,
good land stewardship is a must. The
ranches also provide open-space and undisturbed
habitat, and water, for many wildlife species.
With the ever-encroaching housing developments in
rural areas, many times these ranches are the saving
grace for the wildlife.
Long-term Effects
When you purchase meat, eggs, and dairy
products from grassfed animals, you support a healthy and viable local food system which is less energy dependent and which builds community by establishing connections between the producer and the consumer.
You help
small-scale ranchers and farmers make a living from
the land, who can continue to supply families with
healthy wholesome products while keeping the land
open to a host of wildlife species.
To see where you can buy your
grassfed products, see our
list
of member producers.
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