Fat Bottom Farms Animal Grazing Facts
Why Feed Matters
Beef quality is influenced by many factors, including an animal’s genetics, age, breed, location, and very significantly, the animal’s diet.
Cattle are a type of ruminant animal. Ruminants have a stomach with four compartments, the largest of which is called the rumen. The rumen is a fermentation chamber where fibrous grasses are digested by bacteria to produce a high-quality protein (i.e., meat). Forages are the edible parts of plants other than grain and include pasture vegetation and grasses. They are good sources of beneficial omega-3 fats. In contrast, grains such as corn are dominated by more inflammatory omega-6 fats. Due to the way cattle digest their food, they can convert the beneficial fat and nutrients in plants into more nutritious meat for people to eat.
Why Buy Pastured/Grass-Fed Meat?
Studies show the nutritional value of beef from cattle that consume grass and forage for their entire lives is higher than beef from cattle that are fed grain. The nutritional benefits of pasture-raised beef cattle include…
1. Better Fat Quality
Less saturated fat, and more heart-healthy polyunsaturated fats.
► Replacing saturated fats with polyunsaturated fats is associated with reduced blood levels of total and LDL Cholesterol.
► Studies suggest that replacement reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks, and related deaths.
A better ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats.
► Omega-6 fats are more inflammatory than omega-3 fats.
► Research suggests a lower ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats may improve cognitive function and reduce the risk of many chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.
2. Higher levels of Antioxidants: Vitamin E and β-carotene
► Vitamin E and β-carotene protect cells from damage due to free radicals.
► β-carotene is a precursor of vitamin A and is critical for vision health.
Compared to grain-fed beef, beef from cattle raised 100% on pasture has:
3 times more Omega-3 fats
60% lower omega-6 to omega-3 ratio
1.5 times higher polyunsaturated versus saturated fat
3 times more Vitamin E
1.5 times more beta-carotene
The Bottom Line
Pasture-raised animals produce nutritionally superior food for people. In addition to the nutritional advantages, there are many animal welfare and environmental benefits associated with pasture-based animal agriculture. Please consider supporting your local family farmers who raise their animals humanely on grass and well-managed pasture.