Vitamen E: grass-fed beef can have 300% more vitamin E than grain finished beef. Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant that lowers the risk of heart disease and cancer.¹

Vitamin A:grass-fed beef can have 400% more vitamin A than grain finished beef. Vitamin A is a cancer fighter with links to good vision and good sex. It is also necessary for bone development and prevention of ski disorders¹.

Zinc:is a part of every living cell in the body; it’s essential for optimal growth and development, supports the immune system, and is required by enzymes involved in most major metabolic pathways. Mild zinc deficiency can have adverse health effects on pregnancy outcomes, growth, cognition, and immune function.^2,3

Iron:Beef is naturally rich in heme iron that is easily absorbed. Iron, an essential mineral found in every cell has the following main functions²:

• Formation of red blood cells
• Cofactor of enzymes and other proteins involved
• Transports oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body

B-Vitamins: Beef boasts a complete package of the B-complex vitamins – thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, B₆and B₁₂. These vitamins are essential for a variety of functions such as normal metabolism of all cells, appetite regulation, and healthy neurological function. Research shows that the five B-complex vitamins found in beef may help protect against cognitive decline such as age-related dementia.^4,5

Cattle that feed on natural forage and grasses have a higher amount of CLA than cattle that are finished on grain in feedlots. CLA has been shown to have health benefits as being anti-carcinogenic, can reduce body fat, is an anti-diabetic, and can help prevent heart disease.³A French study of 360 women showed results that women with a higher amount of CLA in their system the lower their incidence of breast cancer.³

Omega-3 fatty acids have in recent time received a large amount of popularity with the health benefits it can produce. Omega 3 is a potent anti-cancer agent and also reduces inflammation, lowers the risk of chronic heart disease, and arthritis.³Omega-3 is considered important for cognitive function. There are studies that suggest children that do not receive enough from their mothers during pregnancy are at risk of developing vision and nerve problems.²People with a diet rich in Omega-3 have a reduced chance of suffering from depression, attention deficit disorder, schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease.⁴

By promoting the healthy growth of these nutrients in our program we have a product with a higher level of CLA than conventional beef. The most common forms of CLA are rumenic and vaccenic acid. Rumenic acid is known for its anticancer properties while early indications are that vaccenic acid “may reduce  triglycerides, LDL cholesterol (Bad Cholesterol), and total cholesterol in the bloodstream².

Sources:

1. University of Maryland Medical Centre (UMMC). (2011).Omega-3 Fatty Acids. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/omega-3-000316.htm
2. Allen Nation (2002).Farm Fresh – Direct Marketing Meats and Milk.Green Park Press, Ridgeland Mississippi. Pages 180-185 
3. Simopolous, A. P. and Jo Robinson (1999).The Omega Diet. New York, HarperCollins.

Our land and winter hay is never exposed to chemical sprays. Also our animal feed sources are never exposed to Animal By-Products.

Feed additives are traditionally added to feed to either promote growth or immune functions in the animal. They do this through low level antibiotic feed additives or additives that alter digestion to create more energy in the system allowing the animal to consume more and have greater gains.

We have always steered away from feed additives in our program as while they can be beneficial at times they are mostly unnecessary to our systems success and can be harmful to animal health if used improperly. The result is a program that specifies No Rumensin, No Urea our winter rations as they are the two feed additives most often used in our area.

“Rumensin is a feed additive that alters ruminal fermentation such that the propionate to acetate ratio is increased thereby increasing the amount of energy available to ruminant animals for growth and other productive purposes. The effect is seen with both forage- and grain-based diets.”[1]

Urea is used as a protein supplement in cattle rations. However; “When too much ammonia escapes the rumen because the microbes are not able to utilize enough of it for protein, the capacity of the liver for excretion can be overwhelmed and a toxicity can occur. It is vitally important that the right level of urea is fed and that there will be sufficient bacterial action to produce protein.[2]”