What is Grass-Fed Beef?
Grass-fed beef ranches with AGA certification are inspected by third-party auditors at least every 15 months. In order to be AGA certified all beef cattle must be born and raised on open grass pastures and never given any grains, hormones or other drugs. Here at Rafter W Ranch, we move our cattle to fresh pastures daily, sometimes even twice per day. Any animal that becomes sick at Rafter W Ranch is removed from the herd.
The Grass-Fed Difference
Grass-fed beef is grown slower and the way nature intended. Grass-fed cattle forage for their food, walking slowly from a lush patch of Bluestem grass to a nice cool patch of clover. They spend time lounging in the shade chewing their cud and standing in creeks drinking cool spring water. Rafter W Ranch cattle live out their entire lives in this idyllic setting.
Compare this to grain finished beef. In a feedlot cattle are pressed in as tight as possible because wasted space is lost money to feedlot operators. In this overcrowded environment, disease spreads rapidly so antibiotics are routinely used as a preventive measure. Growth hormones are often used as well as GMO feeds containing animal by-products.
The difference in quality of the meat comes through when you taste it.
The Benefits
Grass-fed beef is higher in Omega 3s, higher in protein, lower in fat and has lower calorie content. Grass-fed beef is also richer in healthy fats and antioxidants. In short, grass-fed beef one of the healthier meat options rivaling poultry in many cases. But it is also better for the environment, the cattle and our peace of mind here at Rafter W Ranch.
Grass-Fed Meal Ideas
When it comes time to prepare a meal of grass-fed beef the options are nearly endless.
Here are a few of our favorite Ground Beef recipes.
If you are on a Paleo diet (or even if you aren’t), you’ll want to try out this Paleo Flank Steak recipe.
Another time tested favorite is this Mouth Watering Chuck Roast that is sure to be a family favorite.
In general, AGA offers these Grass-fed cooking tips.
Where to Buy Grass-Fed Beef
Now that you are hungry and ready to try out some of these recipes you should visit us at Rafter W Ranch or click HERE to place your order online. We look forward to serving you our best.