Grass-fed Beef

We've been buying grass-fed beef, pastured chickens, and their eggs from White Oak Pastures, a farm about 80 miles south of Columbus.

 

Maybe you are asking, "Grass-fed cows, pastured chickens and eggs, what's the big deal?"

"Cows were born to roam and graze. Hogs were born to root and wallow. Chickens were born to scratch and peck. These are natural instinctive animal behaviors. Unfortunately, industrial commodity livestock production removes costs from meat production systems by raising animals in mono-cultural confinement systems that do not allow these instinctive behaviors." (from White Oak Pastures)

 

Again from White Oak Pastures: According to a 2009 study conducted by the USDA and Clemson University, grass-fed beef is better for human health than grain-fed beef in ten ways:

1. Lower in total fat
2. Higher in beta-carotene
3. Higher in vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)
4. Higher in the B-vitamins (thiamine and riboflavin)
5. Higher in the minerals calcium, magnesium, and potassium
6. Higher in total omega-3s
7. Better ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids (1.65 vs 4.84)
8. Higher in conjugated linoleic acid
9. Higher in vaccenic acid
10. Lower in the saturated fats linked with heart disease

Take a quick look at this video from US Wellness Meats on the benefits of grass-fed beef The Grass-fed Difference. (If you have a little more time,  read this article Red Meat It Does a Body Good.)

Chickens scratching for bugs and seeds
outside like they are supposed to do

These hens in the field spend the days on pasture, as opposed to being kept in confinement and fed primarily grains.  Pastured hens' diets are naturally complemented with bugs, earthworms, and other such critters that give their eggs a huge nutritious boost. Although not necessarily organic, pastured hens are usually much healthier and happier than their space-restricted and antibiotic-pumped industrial cousins. Pasturing is the traditional method of raising egg-laying hens and other poultry. It is ecologically sustainable, humane, and produces the tastiest, most nutritious eggs.

Factory chickens never go outside, most
don't even see daylight.

 

Eggs from pastured hens contain up to 20 times more healthy omega-3 fatty acids than those from factory hens.  Pastured eggs also have 10 percent less fat, 40 percent more vitamin A, and 34 percent less cholesterol than eggs obtained from factory farms. (from Local Harvest)

If you still don't mind eating chickens raised in a factory, see this short video from Food Inc about a chicken farm.