Organic food is becoming the need of the day. With the human population poised to reach seven billion soon, it has become a consistent danger to the natural resources. Not only are we using natural resources with abandon, the various cultivation processes are exploiting Mother Nature in ways that have devastating effects, in both the long and short term.
However, with increased ecology awareness, we are now taking steps to make sure that humankind is giving back to Nature as much as it takes from it for their requirements—one of these ways is by creating organic products.
What is organic beef
Today, we can find all kinds of organic products, from baby food to clothes. But more importantly, organic food produce, like organic vegetables, organic coffee and organic beef.
As the name suggests, organic beef is the beef that is produced in a natural manner and without the use of any artificial medications, insecticides, pesticides or fertilizers.
There are several rules and regulations that need to be adhered to, if the producer wants to brand their beef as ‘organic beef’. These rules change from region to region, and there are different organizations and institutions that ensure that the rules are taken care of.
The important rules that a beef producer should ensure is that the animals are born and raised on pasture that is certified as organic. Also, they should ensure that the animals have never received any antibiotics or other chemical medications. They should also ensure that the animals have never received any hormones that might promote growth in an unnatural manner.
Healthy pasture fed beef
The farmer should ensure that the animals are provided with only organic foods, like grains and grasses. Last but not the least; the animals should have unrestricted outdoor access to organic pasture. That is, pasture which has not had chemical fertilizer added to it, or been sprayed with herbicides, fungicides etc.
The best organic beef will not have any grains added to their diet. Cattle are herbivores and have a large rumen to digest grass and small herbs. The digestive system of cattle has not evolved to digest grains effectively. When cattle are fed grain a lot of it will pass straight through their digestive system. Have you ever noticed the grass that sprouts from fresh pats of manure, this is from the undigested grain the animals were fed.
Organic beef free from medications
The most difficult of these rules, is the one that requires that they never receive any antibiotics. The use of antibiotics has become common place in both agriculture and the medical field. In fact in some areas of animal production, antibiotics are added to feed.
In some intensive beef production systems, hormones may also be given to make the cattle grow quicker. Using antibiotics or hormones, is not the best practice for either the health of the animal or for us as consumers.
If beef is raised on managed organic pastures, there should be no need for antibiotics, hormones or any other medications.
Organic beef from birth to plate
Organic beef is not just about giving natural and nutritious food to people, but it’ also about the humane treatment of animals.
The organic and natural production of beef aims to respect the life of the animal for it’s whole life. This includes raising the calf from birth on rich natural pastures, right through to stress free slaughter. It is well known that the meat from stress free beef is much more tender and palatable to eat. Cattle need to be in a very happy place to produce the best quality meat after slaughter.
Health benefits of organic beef
Consuming organic beef has several health advantages for consumers. To begin with organic beef is usually lower in omega 6 fatty acids and higher in omega3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation in the body, so are therefore advantageous for our health.
Grass fed, or organic beef is also richer in nutrients, as compared to other types of beef production. Grass and herbs from a natural pasture will contain more nutrients, and particularly micro nutrients, which end up in the meat of the animal. Ultimately these nutrients will end up in us.
As people are becoming more conscious and informed about the food that they eat, the demand for organic beef is becoming greater.
The very best organic beef you can get, comes from a local farmer who is following all the requirements outlined above. The closer the production is to the consumer, the lower the energy costs involved. And the better for the environment.