Why Should We Waste Space on a Pasture?
There are many reasons why we set up a small pasture on our farm. The first most obvious is that the pasture allows us to feed our two Dexter cattle and 2 goats for nearly half the year by only supplementing with a small amount of hay! However, research is revealing that there are significant benefits to pasture raised meat and dairy. Below is a quote taken from Jo Robinson, who authored an article found at Eat Wild.com :
Few consumers realize that many producers of organic or naturally raised animal products, raise their animals in confinement and feed them grain---just like the operators of conventional feedlots. Feeding large amounts of grain to a grazing animal decreases the nutritional value of its products whether the grain is organic or conventionally raised. The reason is simple. Compared with grass, grain has far fewer omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E. Therefore, grain fed animals have fewer of these important nutrients in their meat and dairy products. Grain feeding also interferes with the creation of a cancer-fighting fight called conjugated linoleic acid or CLA. A test by an independent lab determined that milk from one of the largest organic grain-fed dairies had no more omega-3 fatty acids or CLA than milk from ordinary dairies. Similarly, meat from organic grain-fed beef has the same nutritional profile as meat from the largest Kansas feedlot. |
We often assume that "grain fed" must be better. Recently at the Mchenry County Fair, we were accused of starving one of our milk goats. I agreed that compared to the other goats, ours look fairly slim. However, it was clear to me that these nearly 100% grain fed animals were not nearly as healthy as our slim Pella, who was easily keeping up with those obese animals on milk production. It is the American way to assume that bigger is better. Maybe bigger means fatter. Maybe fatter means more difficult births and shorter life expectancy. And now, in addition, we find evidence that grass feeding is actually beneficial for meat and dairy production, as well as the general health of the animal.
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