 Truly
sustainable livestock farming requires the use of a
pasture-based system. Pasture-raised animals roam freely in
their natural environment where they're able to eat nutritious
grasses and other plants that their bodies are adapted to
digest. In addition to dramatically improving the welfare of
farm animals, pasturing also helps reduce environmental damage,
and yields meat, eggs, and dairy products that are tastier and
more nutritious than foods produced on factory farms.
Animal Health Benefits
Animals raised on pasture enjoy a much higher quality of life
than those confined within factory farms. When raised on open
pasture, animals are able to move around freely and carry out
their natural behaviors. This lifestyle is impossible to achieve
on industrial farms, where thousands of animals are crowded into
confined facilities, often without access to fresh air or
sunlight. These stressful conditions are a breeding ground for
bacteria and the animals frequently become ill, so factory farms
must routinely treat them with antibiotics
to prevent outbreaks of disease. i
Grazing on pasture is especially beneficial for cattle
and other ruminants, whose bodies are developed to eat grass.
The roughage provided by grasses and other plants allows
ruminants to produce saliva, which helps neutralize acids that
exist naturally in their digestive systems. When taken off
pasture and put on a diet of grain, a ruminant will produce less
saliva, causing an increase in acidity within its digestive
tract. As a result, grain-fed cattle often suffer from a number
of health problems including intestinal damage, dehydration,
liver abscesses and even death. ii Despite the fact
that grain diets can sicken cattle and other ruminants,
factory farms feed these animals grain (usually corn or
soybeans) because it's a cheap way to fatten animals and force
them to grow to market weight as quickly as possible.
Pasture-raised animals also enjoy a diet free of the
unnatural feed additives routinely
administered on factory farms. Industrial farms frequently
supplement animal feed with a range of byproducts including
chicken manure, plate waste from restaurants, and animal blood
in order to bolster the quantity and protein content of the
feed. Antibiotics and artificial hormones
are also added to promote rapid growth. On pasture, animals get
all the nutrients they need from grass and forage (other
plants), and some animals, like chickens, get additional
vitamins and protein from eating insects.
Human Health Benefits
A growing body of research indicates that pasture-raised meat,
eggs, and dairy products are better for consumers'
health than conventionally-raised, grain-fed foods. In addition
to being lower in calories and total fat, pasture-raised foods
have higher levels of vitamins, and a healthier balance of
omega-3 and omega-6 fats than conventional meat and dairy
products.
Studies have shown that milk from pasture-fed cows has as
much as five times the CLA (a “good” type of fatty
acid) as milk from grain-fed cows. iii And meat from
pasture-fed cows has from 200 to 500 percent more CLA as a
proportion of total fatty acids than meat from cows that eat a
primarily grain-based diet. iv
Free-range chickens have 21% less total fat, 30% less
saturated fat and 28% fewer calories than their factory-farmed
counterparts. v Eggs from poultry raised on pasture
have 10% less fat, 40% more vitamin A and 400% more omega-3's. vi
Environmental Benefits
Pasture-based systems can help the environment,
especially through fertilizing the soil and by reducing the
amount of grain produced as feed. And unlike industrial farms,
which rely on large amounts of fossil fuels to truck feed and
animal waste, pasture-based systems take advantage of the
animal’s ability to feed itself and spread its own manure.
Keeping Small Farmers in
Business
When you buy pastured meat, you're not only taking a step to
safeguard your health, protect the environment, and improve animal wellbeing, you're also
supporting sustainable farming and the farmers who choose to
practice it. Small, local family farmers are invaluable members
of the nation's rural communities and
play a key role as stewards of the land.
Finding and Cooking
Pastured Meat, Eggs and Dairy
Pasture-raised foods are becoming increasingly popular! To find
farms, stores, and restaurants that supply pasture-raised meat,
eggs, and dairy products, visit our Eat Well Guide.
Since farmers typically slaughter their pasture-raised
animals seasonally, it may be difficult to find pastured meats
year-round. However, since these meats are often sold in bulk,
you can buy a large quantity to store in your freezer until the
next season comes around.
Keep in mind that the consistency, texture, color and
flavors of food from pasture-raised animals differ from those of
conventionally-produced foods. Pasture-raised chickens produce
eggs with brighter, more orange-colored yolks than conventional
eggs, and butter from pasture-raised cows tends to have a darker
yellow color than the butter you get at the supermarket. Since
pastured meats contain less fat, they must be cooked more slowly
than conventional meats.
Did You Know?
- Raising grain-fed cattle is
extraordinarily resource-intensive; a cow must consume about 8
pounds of grain in order to yield one pound of meat. vii
- It is estimated that 12 to 32 % of
all feedlot cattle develop liver abscesses as a result of the
high-grain diet. viii
- If you, like the average American,
eat 67 pounds of beef per year, then switching from
conventional beef to pastured beef would reduce your yearly
calorie intake by 16,642 calories! ix
For More Information
- Eat
Well Guide
Our very own online directory of farms, stores, markets,
restaurants and other outlets that offer sustainably-raised
meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products. Use the “advanced search” feature to find
sources of grass-fed/pastured foods in your area.
- Eat Wild
Created by Jo Robinson, the author of Pasture Perfect
and an authority on pasture-based farming, this website
provides a tremendous amount of information about
pasture-raised animals. The site also includes an extensive
bibliography of scientific studies related to pasture-based
agriculture and pasture-raised foods.
- Graze
Magazine
Written “by graziers for graziers,” this monthly
publication provides detailed information about the art and
science of intensively managed grazing.
- For recipes and tips on cooking
pastured beef, see our feature article: Grilling with
Grass-Fed Beef.
Books
- The Grass-fed Gourmet Cookbook: Healthy
Cooking and Good Living with Pasture-Raised Foods by Shannon
Hayes
- Pasture Perfect: The Far Reaching Benefits
of Choosing Meat, Eggs, and Dairy Products from Grass-Fed
Animals by Jo Robinson
Pasture Perfect offers consumers an overview of the benefits of
grass-fed/pastured meat, eggs, and dairy products. It also
includes a selection of recipes for preparing grass-fed beef,
bison, venison, lamb, veal, pork, poultry, and eggs.
- Holy Cows & Hog Heaven: The Food
Buyer's Guide to Farm Friendly Food by Joel Salatin
Sources
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