In order to achieve maximum weight gain in the shortest time possible with minimal cost, most factories resolve to an intensive cattle production method where thousands of cattle are confined in dirt feedlots and the main feeding diet is grain-based with hormones to contribute to faster growth rate. This method however raises a number of concerns including increased greenhouse gas emissions and unhealthy meat products. This has largely contributed to increased demand of products from grass-fed beef farms.
In farms where cattle are raised on grass, the animals are allowed to forage over a large land mass with well-maintained pasture. The effect is that animals are able to leave their life in the most natural manner. Eating grains as the main diet as opposed to grass completely alters the natural behavior of these animals. The process of gaining weight with grass as the main food is a challenge.
The major attribute that attracts most consumers to beef products from cattle that are raised in grass farms is their nutritional value. The meat has lower levels of saturated fats and total fats in general. The cholesterol level and calories are also lower in quantities. Of major importance however are higher quantities of vitamin C and vitamin E that are recorded in meat products. Other beneficial attributes include higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, beta-carotene among several other nutrients.
It cannot escape the eye of consumers that in feedlots, the animals are fed with supplements and hormones to promote faster growth. These are substances that are not completely safe for the consumer as they can have similar effects when they get into the body when still active.
Most feed used for faster fattening in factory farms are unnatural and the major ingredients are genetically modified grains. In some cases, by products may also be used as feed all contribution to unhealthy beef full of hormones blamed for uncontrolled growth.
Raring of animals in restricted and confined factory farms is also considered to be environmentally insensitive. In majority of cases, manure dumping is not done properly leading to very high concentration of nutrients in nearby soils. This can be the cause of soil and water pollution. This is not a concern when cattle are raised on pasture as the manure is evenly spread all over wide land as is able to work as organic fertilizer.
Several studies carried out casts dark cloud on factory farming. The majority of cases of E. Coli and Listeria are observed in meat products from cattle raised in feedlots with reported cases of up to 58% of total beef while only 2% of meat from pasture fed cattle has been reported to have the bacteria that have led to recalls hitting headlines.
The standards of Animal Welfare Approved practices of husbandry, the cattle should be raised in very humane manner in conditions that are as natural as possible. This is hardly observed in feedlots.
In farms where cattle are raised on grass, the animals are allowed to forage over a large land mass with well-maintained pasture. The effect is that animals are able to leave their life in the most natural manner. Eating grains as the main diet as opposed to grass completely alters the natural behavior of these animals. The process of gaining weight with grass as the main food is a challenge.
The major attribute that attracts most consumers to beef products from cattle that are raised in grass farms is their nutritional value. The meat has lower levels of saturated fats and total fats in general. The cholesterol level and calories are also lower in quantities. Of major importance however are higher quantities of vitamin C and vitamin E that are recorded in meat products. Other beneficial attributes include higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, beta-carotene among several other nutrients.
It cannot escape the eye of consumers that in feedlots, the animals are fed with supplements and hormones to promote faster growth. These are substances that are not completely safe for the consumer as they can have similar effects when they get into the body when still active.
Most feed used for faster fattening in factory farms are unnatural and the major ingredients are genetically modified grains. In some cases, by products may also be used as feed all contribution to unhealthy beef full of hormones blamed for uncontrolled growth.
Raring of animals in restricted and confined factory farms is also considered to be environmentally insensitive. In majority of cases, manure dumping is not done properly leading to very high concentration of nutrients in nearby soils. This can be the cause of soil and water pollution. This is not a concern when cattle are raised on pasture as the manure is evenly spread all over wide land as is able to work as organic fertilizer.
Several studies carried out casts dark cloud on factory farming. The majority of cases of E. Coli and Listeria are observed in meat products from cattle raised in feedlots with reported cases of up to 58% of total beef while only 2% of meat from pasture fed cattle has been reported to have the bacteria that have led to recalls hitting headlines.
The standards of Animal Welfare Approved practices of husbandry, the cattle should be raised in very humane manner in conditions that are as natural as possible. This is hardly observed in feedlots.
About the Author:
To be able to obtain more information about grass-fed beef farms you must go directly to our main website . Find here the link to click on http://www.boeckmannfamilyfarmllc.com today.
No comments:
Post a Comment