Pasture-Raised Meats
May Be Better for You.

Recent Medical Research Indicates Pasture-Raised Livestock May Be Nutritionally Superior to livestock raised on high grain diets.

More Good Fats Than Bad.
Recent medical research has indicated that grass fed animal fat has higher levels of essential omega-3 fatty acids than animals fed high grain diets thereby leading us to believe that grass fed animals are nutritionally superior to those raised on high grain diets. In his recent book, Natural Health, Natural Medicine, Dr. Andrew Weil argues that omega-3's may reduce the clotting tendency of blood (and thereby lower risk of heart attacks), may inhibit inflammation and have other beneficial effects. Consequently, an increase in the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 series of fatty acids in the human diet is now considered to be important in reducing the incidence of lifestyle diseases. Dr. Raymond Steen recently reported on research at Hillsborough Research Institute that showed cattle raised on pasture had a ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 series four times greater than beef cattle finished on high concentrate (feedlot) diets. "This research has shown that, as well as having a cleaner, greener, environmentally friendly image, beef from pasture is also likely to be a much better product in terms of human health than beef produced from grain," said Steen.

Pasture-raised Meat Higher
In Beta-carotene.
Livestock raised on pasture have significantly higher levels of the antioxidant beta-carotene than animals finished in a feedlot, according to a 1997 study by the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station. Their research found that the Beta-carotene content was twice as high as conventionally raised animals. The beta-carotene from pasture-raised animals was 64 milligrams per 100 grams of a steak, and 87 milligrams per 100 grams of hamburger. The Beta-carotene content from feedlot animals was only 36 milligrams per 100 grams of steak, and 41 milligrams per 100 grams of hamburger. That's twice as much beta-carotene as conventional meats.