The Advantages of Grass-Fed over Grain-Fed Cattle

Scott Lively

Scott Lively is a longtime leader in the organic beef industry who currently leads Pure Land America, a company that partners with leading Midwest sustainable beef producers and sources meat from 100 percent grass-fed cattle. A key selling point of the product Scott Lively offers is that its organic beef is leaner and healthier than that from grain fed cattle.

Consumer interest in grass fed cows has increased in recent decades, reflecting the fact that cattle evolved over the millennia eating grass in pastures. Grain fed cows are fed grain-based feeds containing cottonseed, corn, soy, and sorghum that are not part of the diet their stomachs evolved to work best with.

Research has backed this up, demonstrating that digestive issues and bacterial contamination are more common among cattle that eat grains than grasses. More than 10 percent of grain-fed cows have been shown to develop liver abscesses after four months in a feedlot setting. By contrast, less than 1 percent of cows that stick to more natural pasturing habits suffer from this serious condition. The bottom line is that feeding cattle nothing but grass not only results in meat that is lean and packed with omega 3s, but is more humane for the cattle.

Buying Local Is a Healthy Choice

Scott Lively

Scott Lively is an advocate for organic and sustainable products. In addition to writing Big Beef, a history of the American beef industry, Scott Lively runs eatamerican.com, a website that provides information about the quality and origins of food in America.

By purchasing organic, locally grown foods, Americans can improve their health, reduce their environmental impact, and strengthen local economies. Farmer’s markets, community-supported agriculture projects, and even some grocery stores are now good sources for locally grown foods. Buying food from local farmers has several advantages:

1. Locally grown foods are healthier. When produce is transported across the country to be sold, it must be picked before it reaches peak ripeness. As a result, chemicals are added to improve its appearance, valuable nutrients are lost, and the food’s taste is affected. For the most nutrients and the best flavor, produce should be eaten within 24 hours of being picked.

2. Buying locally grown foods strengthens local communities and their economies. Small farming operations are able to invest their profits into local services, which provide local jobs and are generally more invested in their communities.

3. Buying local helps the environment. By avoiding long-distance transportation of foods, carbon emissions are reduced. In addition, the farming practices of smaller farms are better for the environment.

California Lawmaker Works for Local, Organic Foods in Schools

 

Scott Lively

Scott Lively is an advocate for organic and sustainable foods, including beef. In addition, Scott Lively operates eatamerican.com, a website dedicated to the origins of America’s food supply.

As more Americans are trying to incorporate organic and locally grown foods into their diets, an assemblywoman from California is actively working to bring these healthy foods into school lunchrooms across the state. Cecilia Aguiar-Curry has introduced Assembly Bill 958, proposing the provision of grant money to incorporate organic, locally grown foods into school lunches. The bill would provide 15 cents per meal for the purchase of food under the California Organic-to-School Pilot Program.

In a state where abundant produce is grown, children who receive free or reduced-price lunches normally do not have access to healthy, organic foods. The California Organic-to-School Pilot Program would prioritize nutritious foods for kids in low-income areas and help children understand and appreciate why eating locally grown food is good for their health and their communities.

The Importance of Researching Beef Labeled as “Grass-Fed”

As founder of Dakota Beef, Scott Lively led a company that offers kosher, organic beef from humanely raised, grass-fed cattle. Scott Lively has extensive knowledge of the benefits of hormone-free organic beef, as well as those raised on grass and other greens.

The term “grass-fed” has no USDA marketing standard and thus can be used on a variety of types of beef products. With quality in mind, it is important to inquire whether the cattle have been provided with hormones or antibiotics, if their feed is organic, and whether they have access to outdoor pastures during the growing season.

Although the “organic” label covers most of these items including access to vegetarian feed and outdoor pasture, it does not cover feed ingredients that are not part of the natural bovine diet. For this reason, it is vital to look for specific companies that label “100 percent grass-fed” beef products and their specific cattle raising practices.