Grass Fed Meat Advantages
“…all life is grass and its loveliness is like the flower of the field.”

Grass converts the creative energy of the sun into all the products necessary for life.  But, plants bind these products with lignins, cellulose and humanly indigestible cellular structures.  The ruminants – cows, sheep and the like – intercede for us: they consume this life source, easily digest it and store it in their meat – aminos, proteins, minerals, vitamins and good fats.  And, to boot, meat tastes better than grass!

Most commercially available beef and lamb is grain finished.  Ours is not.  In the grass growing season (6-8 months) our animals walk and self select from grass, clover, alfalfa, trefoil and mineral rich weeds. 

In deep winter, they are fed the same mix they are used to – in the form of our stored hay.  This assures you that our meat comes with its full compliment of Vitamin E, unsaturated fat, and a natural balance between Omega 6 and Omega 3.  Look at the table below and compare conventional with grass fed beef based on a 3.5 ounce serving:

NUTRIENT

GRAIN

GRASS

ENHANCES

Beta-carotene

5%

10%

Vision, Reproduction, Bone Growth

 

 

 

Vitamin E

370mg

930 mg

Antioxidant, Cancer protection,
Cardiovascular Function

 

 

 

 

Omega 3 ratio to

1:>4

01:00.2

Cognitive function, Reduces inflammation,

Omega 6

 

 

Prevents Heart Disease

 

 

 

 
 CLA 5g/day

<10%

25%

Prevents excess body fat

 

Reduces cancer, Prevents diabetes

Grass fed beef takes much longer for the rancher to produce.  Most commercial beef is grain finished, some is growth hormone enhanced, and harvested at 9-12 months of age.  Grass fed producers have 18 to 24 months invested in a beef to assure marbling and maturity on the natural grasses.The ability to “marble” or “finish” on grass is very heritable.  This ability to mature well on grass is a hallmark of Tawanda Farms beef (Murray Grey) and sheep (Romney) breeds..

We at Tawanda Farms believe that the best use of grain is to feed the human population. There was an older cookbook, Diet For A Small Planet that stated this one best: every pound of commercial beef consumed represents 12 pounds of grain not available for people; every pound of commercial lamb consumed represents 5 pounds of grain not available for people. For a more detailed analysis, go to www.eatwild.com look at articles by Jo Robinson.)