Our Grass-Fed Beef

For years there has been a lot of talk and growing interest in eating Grass-Fed Beef.  And for good reason…  It’s simply better beef.

Grass-Fed Beef is healthier, more nutritious beef with healthy levels of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins. Along with all of these benefits, we guarantee exceptional flavour and tenderness.

What about growth hormones?

Our Meridian Grass-Fed Beef is raised without the use of any added growth hormones or steroids, so the cattle grow at nature’s pace. And antibiotics you ask?  They are seldom used, and only ever as a reactionary measure to treat an un-well animal until they’ve been restored to full health.

By stark comparison, use of growth hormone additives are common place in grain-fed beef operations; used by factory farms to stimulate appetite and accelerate weight gain.  Administration of antibiotics is also routine in the conventional beef industry; used as a preventative measure for disease control as risk of illness greatly increases when the animals are confined to smaller spaces and crowded conditions.

Wait… Aren’t all cows grass-fed?

Answer: Yes… and No.  All beef cattle is raised on grass or silage for a portion of life, but most beef available in stores and markets is finished on grain or corn.  “Grass-Fed” means the animal has been raised entirely on grass and forage, and never been confined to feed lot paddocks to eat grain or corn.

Meridian Grass-Fed Beef is raised 100% grass-fed for the duration of life.  The cattle roam Free Range on open pasture eating naturally growing green grass and maybe a bit of brush and foliage now and again.

Better for you

Grass-Fed Beef is much leaner than conventionally raised beef, making it higher in protein. It's also higher in key nutrients including antioxidants, vitamins, and a beneficial fat called conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) that's been tied to improved immunity and anti-inflammation benefits. Plus, grass-fed beef packs about 50% more omega-3 fatty acids than standard grain-fed beef.

A study at Cornell University determined that grass-fed beef have less E.coli (approx. 300 times less) than grain-fed beef.  Grass-fed beef is also less likely to contain “superbugs” bacteria that have become resistant to three or more classes of antibiotics—so it’s considered superior from a food safety perspective as well.

Informational resources:

• 6 Grass-Fed Beef Nutrition Benefits that May Surprise you
• Scientific Literature that Supports the Health Benefits Of Grass Fed Beef 
• Health Benefits of Grass-Fed Products
• Health Benefits of Grass-fed Beef
• A Consumer’s Guide to Grass-fed Beef
• Splendor from the Grass
• The Grass-Fed Revolution

Better for the animal

Grass-Fed cattle graze in open pastures on a diet that nourishes them instead of distressing them, resulting in a healthier animal that doesn’t require preventative antibiotics to keep them healthy.

On the flip side… Most conventionally raised beef cattle are moved to crowded feedlot pens (or paddocks) to be finished on a grain based diet along with antibiotics and growth promotants to accelerate their weight gain and get them to market quickly.  Less than favourable living conditions. Being crammed into a room with a few hundred or even thousands of your closest friends might make for a good party, but it is no way to live.

Informational resources:

• EatWild: Grass-Fed Basics
• Why Farmers Use Hormones

Simply put: Grass-Fed Beef is Better

It’s better for you.  Better for the animal.  It’s simply better beef.

Meridian 100% Grass-Fed Beef.

Other Meridian Grass-Fed Beef Articles:

• Cooking With Grass-Fed Beef
• Our Grass-Fed Beef Farmers
• Where Our Grass-Fed Beef is Raised