Health Benefits

Human Health Benefits

The health benefits of eating the meat from grassfed pastured animals versus eating the meat from grain fed confinement animals is now well documented and growing as research continues.

Some of grassfed meat’s benefits compared to grain fed meat are:

  • 300% – 500% more CLA in grassfed ruminants
  • 400 % more Vitamin A in grassfed animals
  • 400% more Vitamin E in grassfed animals
  • 200% – 400% more Omega – 3s (the good fat) in grassfed animals

 

CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), another healthy fat, may be one of our most potent defenses against cancer as well as other health benefits.

According to CLA researcher Dr. Tilak Dhiman of Utah State University, in animal studies (humans are not normally used in cancer studies for ethical reasons) on CLA:

  • 11 out of 11 studies have found CLA decreases cancer.
  • 2 out of 2 studies have found a decrease in heart disease.
  • 4 out of 5 studies have found a decrease in body fat.
  • 6 out of 6 studies have found an increased immunity to disease.
  • 2 out of 2 studies have found an increase in bone density.
  • 3 out of 3 studies have found a decrease in adult diabetes.

 

Grass-fed beef is better for human health than grain-fed beef in ten different ways, according to the most comprehensive analysis to date. The 2009 study was a joint effort between the USDA and researchers at Clemson University in South Carolina. Compared with grain-fed beef, grass-fed beef was:

  • Lower in total fat
  • Higher in beta-carotene
  • Higher in vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)
  • Higher in the B-vitamins thiamin and riboflavin
  • Higher in the minerals calcium, magnesium, and potassium
  • Higher in total omega-3s
  • A healthier ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids (1.65 vs 4.84)
  • Higher in CLA (cis-9 trans-11), a potential cancer fighter
  • Higher in vaccenic acid (which can be transformed into CLA)
  • Lower in the saturated fats linked with heart disease

 

Animal Health Benefits

There is nothing natural or even comfortable with confining a cow, sheep or pig to a feedlot. Aside from the cramped quarters restricting their mobility and the absence of grass, they are constantly walking in manure and urine. The animal density, manure load, flies and the un-natural diet all make fighting disease a constant battle necessitating the use of antibiotics.

On the other hand, cows, sheep and pigs raised on pasture always have fresh air and are free to walk around. The rain and sun dissolve and sterilize the manure as it is returned to the soil to grow more grass. They eat a natural diet and live in an environment they were created to live in. Which would you prefer for your animals?