Why Grass-Fed Beef Costs More

re: Why Grass-Fed Beef Costs More

Antoinetta_Ferrari — Thu, 03 May 2007 06:33:30 GMT

It's interesting that you have an article on grass-fed beef right now, since I've recently returned from a month in Argentina, known for it's delicious, tantalizing grass-fed beef. I must say, it's AMAZING how wonderful beef tastes when the cows eat the food that they're meant to eat. Clean, tender, full of flavor. We never had to marinade or tenderize our meat, because it was already just perfect the way it was. No steroids, no antibiotics, just pure beef. I should also note that I rarely saw obesity - and these people eat their fabulous beef on a very regular basis.
Yes, grass-fed beef costs more money, but it's well worth it - for the health factor but also for the enjoyment factor. (I eat for pleasure, what can I say.)
I always say that cheap is expensive in the long-run, especially when it comes to meat.

re: Why Grass-Fed Beef Costs More

MooCrazyTN — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 21:42:59 GMT

I raise grass-finished beef. I think it only costs more if it goes through the more traditional distribution system due to the fact the article mentioned about taking longer to finish an animal on grass. The big buyers would not pay farmers any more for safe beef and have to work hard to find a special market for it as most people believe corn-fed is gourmet.

We sell direct to consumers so our beef is about the same price as that in the store. Since there is no middle man, we make more per animal. A big obstacle to small farmers who would be willing to do this is government. They make it very hard to sell individual cuts by requiring a label that takes possibly years to be approved. Also, in our state, conventional agripowers are requiring all beef farmers to give them money to promote beef. The Supreme court actually said a private beef organization can tax us and take our money to sell their nasty feedlot garbage. This just infuriates me and does nothing to improve the quality of beef anywhere. The ID system someone on this site wrote about recently also threatens small farmers. I could go on and on about the unfavorable policies hurting small farmers. We don't want handouts, just a chance to grow and sell good food free of irrelevant regulations whose only purpose is to control the food supply. MooCrazyTN

re: Why Grass-Fed Beef Costs More

Reesacat — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 21:03:45 GMT

I found this article helpful. I want to support family farms and operations
like Ms Ross, and knowing why my beef costs more makes me more
willing to pay extra.

Uncle Russ, this is the first time I heard about contaminated gelatin.
Very scary! As always, you keep an eye out for us! Thanks.

re: Why Grass-Fed Beef Costs More

Bridestein — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 18:50:14 GMT

Grass fed beef is definitely worth whatever price. I have never been able to tolerate beef. It has always left me with the same feeling as a hangover. I know I don't react well to antibiotics or grains, but I never made the connection. I just avoided it until I learned about grass-fed beef from Dr. Mercola's website. Am I ever grateful! Not only has my health improved tremendously, but I feel great after I eat it and the taste is amazing.
Try it, you'll never go back!

re: Why Grass-Fed Beef Costs More

tammyinmo — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 17:28:32 GMT

We raise grassfed beef and lamb. At this time, we are very small. But, in my opinion, grassfed beef, purchased straight from the producer does not have to be expensive!!! After all, we don't have to buy all the grains and poisons. As Joel Salatin, who popularized "salad bar beef," said in a recent article he wrote, if we can't be competitive with the price of our beef, when we don't feed grain, there is something wrong with our model. There are no middlemen when you buy straight from the farmer that produces your food!

re: Why Grass-Fed Beef Costs More

Michigan Mom — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 17:16:59 GMT

Grass fed beef is a lot cheaper when you buy it in bulk form a local farmer in the form of a 1/4 or 1/2 cow. If you think you can't afford that start with an extra paycheck or tax return...then get yourself an annual budget (try Suze Orman's books). A budget will let you put your health first by eliminating the fluff from your spending so you can focus on what's really important.

re: Why Grass-Fed Beef Costs More

Russ Bianchi — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 16:26:47 GMT

BEWARE the national retail chain supermarkets, national natural health food store chains, or other big box chain stores, manipulating this unregulated labeling of "grass fed" by throwing a few bails of fresh grass in with their chemical laden, refined (gmo) corn, and antibiotic drenched, SICK & DANGEROUS artificial feed lot practices...!!!

How can you discern the difference? Price generally...

The crooks will try to under price the truly better for you beef....

The price judgement gage is just as true for manipulators feeding refined sweeteners (HFCS) to honey bees.

The apiarists KNOW they are killing off the hives by such short sighted practices, but now are lobbying grant money (YOUR TAXES) from Congress to 'study' the problem, and deflect from their own BAD entomological stewardship, for higher short terms PROFITS via increased volume output, at lower prices. Yes, cell phone frequencies and gmo crops are also contributing to bee kills, but the main culprit has and remains feeding them HFCS; 70% of the year under artificial lighting to trick the bees into continuing producing regurgitated partial HFCS/honey (bee barf).

You usually get what you pay for.

Quality is long remembered, after price is long forgotten.

PS- Avoid any beef based gelatins products or brands, like the PLAGUE; they have been proven to be laced with BSE (Mad Cow) for many years....not that you will know it when you contract it, because the incubation and dormancy period is so long (with NO CURE).