Organic and Conventional Beef

Organic and Conventional Beef in the United StatesDustie Tibboel

Conventional Beef Productionraises cattle in feedlot operationscattle get fed a diet of mostly grain and protein receive vaccinations to keep them healthy. many use growth hormones to help cattle grow and gain weight more easily and rapidly

Organic Beef Productionhas to follow USDA (United States Department of Agricultural) standards.standards and regulations included, but are not limited to, at least one hundred twenty days on grass pasture and being vaccination and feed additive free.

Value of meat(nutrition)[Organic is] no healthier and not significantly safer than conventional foods and produce grown with pesticides.No greater value of nutrition

Animal WelfareConventional cattle are provided with sufficient amounts of water, food, and comfortable space in feedlots cattle are not stressed and are kept healthy

Organiccattle are raised in a pasture setting in grazing season, at least one hundred twenty daysthen transferred to lots during the off-grazing season.

Effects on marketsTermination of growth hormones8% drop in beef produced11% increase in beef retail prices8.5% drop in per-capita beef consumption

Stated be the Sustainable Beef Resource Center

Environmental effectsconventional production systems are three times more land-efficient than the organic-grass-only system reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 40 percent

ConclusionOrganic beef is not any more nutritious than conventionally raised beefOrganic cost more than conventional beefCattle are not more stressful in conventional operations than organic

CitationsNew York Daily News. n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2013.United States Department if Agriculture. n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2013.Green Living. n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2013.United States Department if Agriculture. n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2013.Beef Magazine. n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2013Sustainable Beef Resource Center. n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2013.http://www.sustainablebeef.org/eco.shtmlOld Line Custom Meat Company. Web. 17 Apr. 2013. http://oldlinemeats.com/beef.htmlAnimal Photos. Web. 17 Apr. 2013. http://animalphotos.info/a/topics/animals/mammals/cows/Angus Beef Bulletin. Web. 1 May 2013. http://www.angusbeefbulletin.com/extra/2009/nov09/marketing.html