Eating Local Beef

When you eat beef do you know where it comes from?  What does the cattle you are eating receive as it is raised?  These are really questions you should be asking yourself.  Cattle that grow up eating grasses have much different health than those eating grain.

Cattle have evolved to eat primarily a diet high in fiber and low in protein, which grass offers.  Cattle that are forced to eat grain receive a diet high in protein and low in fiber.  This results in an acidic digestive tract which allows for the multiplication of E. coli.  Grass fed cattle also are much higher in Omega-3 fats and Vitamin E, these compounds come from green grasses.  Omega-3's play a role in prevention of heart disease, cancer, and arthritis.  Some of the statistics from these benefits are found on the Paradigm Farms website.  Cattle raised on feedlots or confinement facilities are very unhealthy.  Packed together so close they can't roam freely and consuming unnatural diets.  These cows have to have a steady diet of antibiotics because the disease rate is so high.  In fact 2/3 of all the antibiotics consumed in the world go towards cattle.

You also have to be careful when looking at natural vs. organic beef.  Organic beef does not necessarily mean it was raised with the care that natural beef is.  Organic beef only means the cattle consume organically raised products, but could still be consuming unnatural grain diets.

In Washington there are many farms where you can find naturally raised beef and other animals.  A map of these farms in Washington is found here.  At these farms you can find natural grass raised beef which are never given antibiotics or growth hormones.  Local beef does not have to be transported far which benefits the environment by burning less fuels to transport grain to the cattle, cattle to the slaughterhouse, and beef to your table.  The less distance your food travels the better for the environment.

You can do yourself a favor and not change your diet by just eating natural beef.  It benefits your health and benefits the cattle you consume.  You will feel much better consuming beef which is locally and naturally grown from cattle that are not crammed into small spaces, fed horrible food, and treated unethically.

- Alec Haberman