Grass-Fed Beef

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Posted by Erika Pitera on September 5, 2008

Grass-Fed Beef Unfortunately, cattle are not always responsibly raised or slaughtered for our consumption in the U.S.

Grass-fed cattle are more environmentally friendly, healthy and humanely treated; however, grass-fed beef is somewhat of a "rarity" in American markets.

So how are grass-fed cattle different than other cattle? Grass is a natural food for cattle; feeding them grain can cause digestive issues - often necessitating antibiotics to maintain their health.

Consequently, cattle that eat only grass rarely need medication and are much healthier in general.

When cattle eat even a little bit of grain, the quality and flavor of the beef begins to decline. Furthermore, grain-fed cattle aren't treated as humanely as grass-fed cattle: they're packed tightly into feedlots, fed steroids, hormones and antibiotics, and live in cramped environments. Grain is even used to produce rapid weight gain in otherwise "grass-fed" cattle before they go to market.

True, 100 percent grass-fed cattle produce healthy and flavorful beef. They are allowed to graze and live in open pastures and use fewer natural resources. They also leave behind less of a carbon footprint than grain-fed cattle. Grass-fed beef is lower in fat and calories and is higher in Omega-3 fatty acids; they also have healthy amounts of beta-carotene.

Without any unnatural chemicals or medications, grass-fed beef is less likely to cause health issues in people and less likely to be linked to cancer and immune disorders.

Delicious grass-fed beef is available from a number of online vendors, but one in particular has turned the topic into an entire movement: La Cense Beef has created a unique site for their Grass-Fed Party, where people who believe in grass-fed foods and ranching can connect with one another and support the cause.

The Grass-Fed Party is also giving away 4 NY strip steaks weekly, and shares plenty of information about the cattle industry. Visit the Grass-Fed Party site to read more about how grass-fed beef is environmentally responsible and fits into a healthy diet.

Photos courtesy of La Cense Beef.