GRASS-FED BEEF - WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?

Beef That's better for you, the land, and the animal

100% grass-fed, pasture-raised beef. It’s become more popular recently, and for good reason. Not only does it provide a more ethical and sustainable way of raising meat, but it is also healthier for both the animal and the people who eat it. In this article, we’ll cover six reasons why pasture-raised, grass-fed beef is better for you, the animal, and the land it’s raised on.

First, let’s define what we mean by grass-fed, pasture-raised beef. Most beef for sale is grain-finished. That means the animal was fed grass much of its life but in the final months was fed corn or other grain. Producers do this because feeding cattle grain makes them put on a lot of fat which can give the meat more flavor. 100% grass-fed beef on the other hand though is only fed grass or hay during its life. An important distinction as you’ll soon find out.

Pasture-raised meat comes from animals that have not spent time in feedlots or industrial farming complexes. A lot of pasture-raised meat comes from small, family farms. We’ll talk in a second about why pasture-raised cattle produces healthier meat and is more environmentally sustainable.

Let’s get started.

1. Higher Nutritional Value

Grass-fed beef is an awesome source of essential nutrients like vitamins A, E, and K, and minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Your body needs those nutrients and they're often more abundant in grass-fed than grain-fed beef. Grass-fed beef is also higher in omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to reduce inflammation and improve heart health. A study in the Journal of Animal Science reported that grass-fed beef contains as much as five times the amount of omega-3 fatty acids as grain-fed beef. Five times the amount of omega-3 is truly amazing.

2. Lower Risk of Disease

Grass-fed beef is an awesome source of essential nutrients like vitamins A, E, and K, and minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Your body needs those nutrients and they're often more abundant in grass-fed than grain-fed beef. Grass-fed beef is also higher in omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to reduce inflammation and improve heart health. A study in the Journal of Animal Science reported that grass-fed beef contains as much as five times the amount of omega-3 fatty acids as grain-fed beef. Five times the amount of omega-3 is truly amazing.

Additionally, grass-fed beef is free from the antibiotics and growth hormones that are commonly used in conventional feedlots. When animals are given antibiotics and hormones those substances can be passed on to you. These substances have been linked to antibiotic resistance, which can make it harder to treat bacterial infections in humans.

3. Better Taste and Quality

Grass-fed beef has a distinct flavor that is often described as being richer and more complex than grain-fed beef. Additionally, because grass-fed beef is typically raised on a natural diet, the meat tends to be leaner and have a firmer texture. This can result in a more satisfying and flavorful eating experience. Athletes, for example, love our meat because it’s high quality protein, low in fat.

4. Better for the Environment

Pasture-raised beef is better for the environment than conventionally-raised beef. Cattle raised on pastures help to improve soil quality by grazing and trampling on the grass, which promotes the growth of new grass and increases the soil's ability to retain water. Cows' manure also helps to add nutrients back into the soil. The land on Windy Ridge is being sustained by the cattle that graze on it. Not only is pasture-raising regenerative to the specific land used to produce it but has a lower carbon footprint than grain-fed beef. Something we all can celebrate and benefit from. A study published in the journal Sustainability in 2018 compared the carbon footprint of grass-fed and grain-fed beef in Ireland and found that grass-fed beef had a whopping 22% lower carbon footprint than grain-fed beef. We can all be excited about that. The study also found that grass-fed beef production had other environmental benefits, such as improved biodiversity and reduced nutrient runoff. A lot of these cuts in carbon come because fewer resources are used to grow and transport grain and transport cattle to and from feedlots.

5. Ethical Treatment of Animals

Grass-fed beef is typically raised on small family farms. At Windy Ridge Cattle our cattle roam and graze on natural pastures. This is a more humane way of raising animals, as it allows them to live in a more natural environment and exhibit natural behaviors. Additionally, pasture-raised cattle aren't subjected to the stressful conditions of feedlots, where they are often crowded and confined to small spaces.

6. Support Local

Remember that bit about pasture-raised beef being raised by small, local farmers? This not only supports local agriculture but also reduces the carbon footprint of the food by reducing the distance it has to travel to get to consumers. Additionally, by supporting local farmers, consumers can be sure that their food is fresh and free from harmful chemicals and additives in the form of preservatives.

WINDY RIDGE CATTLE

HI, I'M BRADEN

I'm so glad you're here. 

I grew up raising horses and working on farms in Cache Valley, located in beautiful northern Utah. I left home after graduating high school, and studied international relations in college.

I was fortunate to have a great career and had my work featured in major publications like National Geographic. But, as the years went by, travelling the world and consulting in Washington DC I kept feeling called to come back home and return to my roots.

So, that's what I did. 

My family and I moved back to northern Utah and began raising cattle. From the beginning though we wanted to embody that feeling of getting back to our roots. Back to a way of ranching that is more natural and healthier for the animals, the people, and the land we love.

Years later and many families fed, I'm proud of what we've created. I hope you'll join me.