Comments on: Real Food Quote Monday – Grain Feeding of Pasture-Raised Beef and Lamb

By: Wardeh

Wardeh — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:37:03 +0000

Steph – So interesting! That is the kind of information I’d like to have. If it only takes a week… then yes, I’d hesitate to do any at all. I think – upon reflection since posting this – its entirely possible that people who grain-finish are giving much more grain to the cow than the cow would get in the wild. But I don’t know for sure… Thanks for sharing what you heard and the link!

By: Steph Stone

Steph Stone — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:23:27 +0000

Wardeh, a similar topic was brought up in the Traditional Foods forum at Mothering magazine’s website. Here’s an interesting comment that I really wish I could find a citation for… speaking of an Australian farmer talking about how they move pastured beef to feed lots for grain for the last 4 months before slaughter. The farmer suggested that it takes but a fortnight for Omega 3 : Omega 6 ratio to change from that of a grass-fed cow to a grain-fed cow.

(Here’s the link to the comment, if you’re curious: http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showpost.php?p=14632581&postcount=27 )

I really want to know if that is true. If it is, then I’d be very hesitant to do any grain feeding, you know? I’ve done a bunch of internet searches but haven’t found any specifics.

By: Real Food Quote Monday ~ Grass-Fed Salad Bar | GNOWFGLINS™

Real Food Quote Monday ~ Grass-Fed Salad Bar | GNOWFGLINS™ — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:51:19 +0000

[...] week, we talked about whether or not a small amount of grass-finishing is appropriate for grass-fed pastured herbivores such as cattle and sheep. Sally Fallon Morell, in Nourishing Traditions, says that since they’ll eat [...]

By: Megan

Megan — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:23:22 +0000

…subscribing to comments b/c my pregnant brain can’t remember where to look when I want to follow up…
.-= Megan´s last blog post… Homemade Smartfood…or, When Cheese Takes Over Your Life =-.

By: Megan

Megan — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:17:18 +0000

Thanks for the tips and info, ladies. I have tried absolutely everything from slow cooking (at lower temps), to searing, braising, sauteeing – the works. We don’t have a grill, so now, a year later, I’ve given my Dad a few steaks and told him to start grilling but I can’t imagine that would really be the magic bullet. If I could ever convince my husband to try again (and once/if we ever finish the 100 pounds in the freezer), I will DEFINITELY try a new farmer. =)
.-= Megan´s last blog post… Homemade Smartfood…or, When Cheese Takes Over Your Life =-.

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:25:50 +0000

We bought a quarter grass-fed beef last November, and had mixed results. The roasts were always awesome (crock pot). The ground beef and steaks however, were awesome only when grilled. When I cooked them on the stove or in the oven, I was never happy with the smell or flavor. The texture was always fine. The smell and flavor were overwhelmingly strong. Initially I thought it was because it was so different from the corn-fed, grocery store meat I was used to. Even though I knew how much better it was for us nutritionally, I didn’t love it.

Then I came across a blog post about the flavor of grass fed beef (can’t remember where now), and a farmer chimed in to say that if you’re not happy with the flavor, you should try a different farm next time. He said that the type of pasture, time of year and age of slaughter, and aging of the beef can all effect the flavor and texture of the beef.

I took that advice, and we ordered from a different farm this year. We now LOVE our grass fed beef! It is so much more mild, and there is almost no smell when cooking the ground beef now. It tastes amazing, and believe it or not, is so tender. We will definitely be sticking with this farm next year. So my advice is with that farmer’s advice: if you don’t love your grass-fed beef, try a different farm!

By: Wardeh

Wardeh — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:57:32 +0000

Mel – Do you have those passage references handy? I will look for them anyway, but if you have the references handy, that would help!

I’m really happy to hear what you all think. Keep the thoughts coming…

By: Wardeh

Wardeh — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:56:02 +0000

Pamela, I am surprised to hear that my feed was down today. All day? This morning from 5:30 to 6 am (my time-West Coast) my host was doing a server reboot, so the site was down. But I didn’t know the feeds were down.

How do you use the garlic with the beef – in a marinade/soak or do you pound it in or what? I’m speaking totally from ignorance here as I have never used a tenderizer of any kind.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:28:32 +0000

Oh, YAY! Your back. Your Feed & Link were so totally down today.
Have I told you, I really like your Monday Quotes section.
Read through the comments.
Just a thought on Megan’s tough beef….it could possibly be the breed. Some tend to be more tough no matter how they are raised over another breed. Now I can’t quote here one breed or another as to which would produce a more tender meat….I am just going on what I’ve heard over the years listening to the farming men in the family. And I am sure this is very true since I’ve had many a tough piece of meat over the years.
One thing that I have found that is a great tenderizer for meats is granulated garlic…seems to work every time. And it beats buying any of the nasty tenderizers on the market that are full of everything you want to avoid.
.-= Pamela @ Seeds of Nutrition´s last blog post… Minnesota Trip: Part II – Betty’s Pies =-.

By: Mel

Mel — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:56:12 +0000

When I was researching this issue, I was surprised to read that Solomon (in the Bible) had both free-range and stalled cattle. The Bible also uses a comparison to a heifer allowed to eat grain (he’s ecstatic – lol). For me, that resolves the legalistic issue where grain-fed beef is concerned. The farmer I buy my raw milk from feeds his cows grain while milking. I talked to another farmer who never gives his dairy cows grain. The price was twice as much and would mean we couldn’t buy it.
.-= Mel´s last blog post… Scientists are People, Too =-.