OrganicOrganicNaturalNatural

Conventional Conventional

Grass fed beef with strict restrictions Grass fed beef with strict restrictions The USDA sets those strict restrictions and they are as The USDA sets those strict restrictions and they are as

follows follows Cattle may not be given certain vitamins and minerals Cattle may not be given certain vitamins and minerals Cattle are never given antibiotics or growth hormonesCattle are never given antibiotics or growth hormones Cannot use conventional pesticides, fertilizers, or bio-Cannot use conventional pesticides, fertilizers, or bio-

engineeringengineering Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where

food is grown food is grown Must use certified companies that handle and process Must use certified companies that handle and process

foodfood Organic cattle must have access to pasture but most Organic cattle must have access to pasture but most

cattle in the US regardless of how they are raised, meet cattle in the US regardless of how they are raised, meet this criterion this criterion

What is organic beef?What is organic beef?

Natural beef does not have an official standardized Natural beef does not have an official standardized definitiondefinition

The USDA sets only 3 restrictionsThe USDA sets only 3 restrictions 1. The product must be minimally processed1. The product must be minimally processed 2. The product cannot contain any artificial ingredients2. The product cannot contain any artificial ingredients 3. The product cannot contain any preservations 3. The product cannot contain any preservations

The USDA has no specific restrictions on The USDA has no specific restrictions on management practicesmanagement practices

Yet it sells for $.25 - $16 more per cwt on a live Yet it sells for $.25 - $16 more per cwt on a live animal basisanimal basis

The owner sets the restrictions The owner sets the restrictions Consumers may feel they are getting a higher-quality Consumers may feel they are getting a higher-quality

local product, but is not always the caselocal product, but is not always the case

What is natural beef?What is natural beef?

AKA Grain finished beefAKA Grain finished beef Cattle spend most of their lives in range pasture Cattle spend most of their lives in range pasture

conditions feeding on forages (grass). conditions feeding on forages (grass). At 12-18 months of age are moved to the feed yard At 12-18 months of age are moved to the feed yard

where they receive a carefully balanced diet where they receive a carefully balanced diet Typically spend between 120-200 days in the feed Typically spend between 120-200 days in the feed

yard to get cattle to optimal weight right around yard to get cattle to optimal weight right around 1,300lbs. 1,300lbs.

Corn is #1 grain usedCorn is #1 grain used Corn fed beef adds tenderness and rich flavorCorn fed beef adds tenderness and rich flavor Can also be considered natural as long as it reaches Can also be considered natural as long as it reaches

USDA’s 3 requirementsUSDA’s 3 requirements 85% of all beef in U.S. is conventionally raised 85% of all beef in U.S. is conventionally raised

What is conventional beef?What is conventional beef?

Organic doesn’t necesarily mean healthierOrganic doesn’t necesarily mean healthier The USDA makes no claims that organically produced food is The USDA makes no claims that organically produced food is

safer or more nutritious than conventionally produced foodsafer or more nutritious than conventionally produced food Through 50 years of research there has been no evidence that Through 50 years of research there has been no evidence that

organic farming is healthierorganic farming is healthier New research from Texas A&M University found that men who

consumed corn-fed beef improved their cholesterol levels while men who consumed grass-fed beef experienced no change.

You will You will pay more pay more for a typically for a typically smaller steak smaller steak that is usually that is usually less marbled than conventional beef.less marbled than conventional beef.

Nutritional ValueNutritional Value

For both organic and conventional beef producers, animal For both organic and conventional beef producers, animal welfare is a prioritywelfare is a priority

A conventional farmer checks their cattle everyday to assure A conventional farmer checks their cattle everyday to assure health throughout the herdhealth throughout the herd

Antibiotics are used in conventional herds to treat only sick Antibiotics are used in conventional herds to treat only sick animals; just like you would treat your sick childrenanimals; just like you would treat your sick children

Cattle like eating grain and get nutrients from it that cannot Cattle like eating grain and get nutrients from it that cannot be found in grass alone be found in grass alone

Animal Welfare Animal Welfare

Grain fed cows also have access to pasture and forages as Grain fed cows also have access to pasture and forages as well well

People believe every calf is raised in a caged factory but People believe every calf is raised in a caged factory but according to the US Census, 97% of farms in the US are according to the US Census, 97% of farms in the US are family owned family owned

When you see cattle “crowded” pictures it is usually at the When you see cattle “crowded” pictures it is usually at the bunk at feeding time where they all come up and eat at the bunk at feeding time where they all come up and eat at the same time. Just like if you go to a school at lunch time in the same time. Just like if you go to a school at lunch time in the cafeteria and all the students are sitting shoulder to cafeteria and all the students are sitting shoulder to shoulder eating their lunch. The picture cuts out all the shoulder eating their lunch. The picture cuts out all the space behind the bunk. space behind the bunk.

Cattle are natural herders so in most cases they have more Cattle are natural herders so in most cases they have more room than required and simply would rather be around one room than required and simply would rather be around one another. another.

Animal Welfare continuedAnimal Welfare continued

By 2050 the world population is projected to grow to over 9 By 2050 the world population is projected to grow to over 9 BillionBillion

Most cattle the aren’t fed in a feedlot require 226 days Most cattle the aren’t fed in a feedlot require 226 days longer to finishlonger to finish

To Grass feed a calf it requires 2-20 acres. So let’s give 10 To Grass feed a calf it requires 2-20 acres. So let’s give 10 acres for every cow in the United States (100,000,000) that acres for every cow in the United States (100,000,000) that would cover nearly half of the nation.would cover nearly half of the nation.

According to NASS and data from the U.S. Census Bureau, According to NASS and data from the U.S. Census Bureau, between 1960 and 2007 the number of U.S. farms declined between 1960 and 2007 the number of U.S. farms declined by more than 1.7 million, yet the U.S. population increased by more than 1.7 million, yet the U.S. population increased by 64 percent. In 1960, there were 3.9 million farms feeding by 64 percent. In 1960, there were 3.9 million farms feeding a U.S. population of 183 million. In 2007, there were 2.2 a U.S. population of 183 million. In 2007, there were 2.2 million farms feeding an estimated population of 301 million.million farms feeding an estimated population of 301 million.

A recent U of I study found that grass fed cattle produce A recent U of I study found that grass fed cattle produce more methane than grain fed cattle more methane than grain fed cattle

World Sustainability World Sustainability

All meat has hormones There have been 0 cases of sickness in humans due to cattle

that have received antibiotics or growth hormones The FDA has strict guidelines that cattle producers follow when

using antibiotics and growth hormones including a rest period to get it out of their system

In beef, the implanted animals will produce meat that contains slightly more of the hormone estrogen (1.9 versus 1.3 nanograms per 3 ounce serving)

When hormones are eaten, they are digested, broken down and largely neutralized

A child’s body produces 50,000 nanograms of estrogen per day and an adult female (non-pregnant) will produce 480,000 nanograms of estrogen per day

There are 520 nanograms of estrogen in ice cream It is human nature to be fearful of things we aren’t familiar

with. So it is advisable to do some research before believing everything you hear or read

Hormones ScareHormones Scare

Organic beef typically is leaner but that also means less Organic beef typically is leaner but that also means less marbling which is what gives beef its flavormarbling which is what gives beef its flavor

Organic beef can have a good taste as all beef can, but follow Organic beef can have a good taste as all beef can, but follow careful cooking directionscareful cooking directions

Ground beef from grass fed cattle naturally contains more Ground beef from grass fed cattle naturally contains more omega-3 fatty acids than from grain-fed cattle (three times as omega-3 fatty acids than from grain-fed cattle (three times as much), but is higher in saturated and trans fat according to a much), but is higher in saturated and trans fat according to a Texas A&M study. Neither is a good source of omega-3 fatty Texas A&M study. Neither is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids compared to fish though (Salmon contain 35 times more acids compared to fish though (Salmon contain 35 times more than beef). than beef).

A recent review did find that organic produce had fewer pesticide residues than conventional farming. However, there is no evidence that these low levels of pesticides present any health risk. The review found: The risk for contamination with detectable pesticide residues was lower among organic than conventional produce (risk difference, 30% [CI, −37% to −23%]), but differences in risk for exceeding maximum allowed limits were small.

http://animalscience.tamu.edu/2013/12/07/ground-beef-from-grass-fed-and-grain-fed-cattle-does-it-matter/

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/no-health-benefits-http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/no-health-benefits-from-organic-food/ from-organic-food/

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/13/opinion/the-myth-of-http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/13/opinion/the-myth-of-sustainable-meat.html?_r=0 sustainable-meat.html?_r=0

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