Benefits of Grass-Fed Beef

Discover the benefits of grass-fed beef
By Gayot Editors

Organic beef has become increasingly popular over the past decade as health-conscious consumers realize it’s better for the body and the environment. But organic beef is usually much more expensive than conventional beef. With such high costs, is it really worth the price?

What Exactly is Organic Beef?

In order to be a well-informed consumer, one should know what “organic” means in the first place. For beef in particular, “organic” means that the cattle were fed 100 percent organic feed (either grasses or grains that were grown without the use of chemicals), were not given antibiotics or growth hormones, and were allowed significant access to the outdoors throughout their lives. Additionally, it also means that the cattle were never fed animal parts, since ruminants are herbivores by nature. Only beef that meets these standards can carry the USDA’s organic seal.

So why do some products carry seals that say “natural” or “antibiotic-free?” While such claims may be truthful, they are not regulated by the USDA and are not synonymous with “organic.” Even meat with a “natural” label is technically just any beef that has been minimally processed.

Is Organic Beef Healthier?

Grass fed beef

Studies have shown that beef from grass-fed cattle is higher in Omega-3 fatty acids and lower in saturated fats. Omega-3 fatty acids are considered to be heart-healthy and protect against physical and mental degenerative diseases.

Another reason organic is better: it considers how raising cattle for food impacts the environment. Organic farming encourages raising animals with a proper land-to-cattle ratio so that the manure can actually be used by plants as fertilizer and doesn’t run off as pollution. Additionally, there is no use of pesticides or artificial fertilizers on the land where the cattle roam, so those chemicals cannot harm the environment (or your own health). According to the Organic Trade Association, the benefits of raising cattle organically include healthier water supplies and more humane treatment of animals.

Conventional Beef Issues

According to the Husbandry Institute, even with the onset of Mad Cow Disease and a 1997 FDA ban on cattle feed containing animal by-products, there are still conventional beef producers who use animal by-products (mainly from chicken and fish) as a protein source to promote the growth of their cattle. Likewise, conventional beef producers sometimes use other controversial methods, such as boosting growth with antibiotics and hormones and housing cattle in cramped, filthy warehouses with no access to the outdoors.

Although the price of organic beef is higher than that of conventional beef, the bottom line is that buying organic helps out the smaller farmer and environment, and also encourages the fair treatment of animals. One way to look at it is to not only consider the immediate effects of supporting such farms but the long term effects on our health and environment. So, next time you stand in line at the meat counter to get your New York steak, don’t only think of the taste. Think of the effects of your choices, too.

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