Virtually 0% Risk of Mad Cow Disease or E.coli
It has been determined by many scientific experts that cattle contract mad cow disease (Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis or BSE) from eating rendered products from other cattle infected with the disease. While there is still much debate on the subject, the majority of research points to this rendering procedure as the means by which cattle contract the disease. Cattle that are finished in feedlots may have the opportunity to be fed renderings of infected cattle mixed with grain and other supplements in their feed rations.
In the case of grass-finished beef no such feed is given to the cattle, so it virtually eliminates the potential risk of the disease being passed on to humans through consumption of grass-fed beef. E.coli are abundant in all ruminant animals because these bacteria are essential for their normal digestive process. The E.coli from grain-finished animals present the real problem. Feeding grain to ruminants makes their intestinal tract more acidic. Over time, the E.coli have a chance to adapt to this more acidic environment. While the human stomach destroys 99.99% of E.coli found in grass-finished animals, the more acidic bacteria from grain-finished beef can survive the acid bath from our stomachs, and can potentially cause major health problems.
Free of Synthetic Hormones and Antibiotics
The wholesale use of synthetic hormones in commercially raised cattle has been a common practice in this country for decades. In simple terms, hormone implants are used to increase the size and weight of the animal. In the commercial cattle industry weight equates into dollars, which in turn translates into higher profitability for the producer. There are volumes of studies that cite both the pros and the cons on the practice of implanting livestock with growth hormones. From a common sense standpoint, one should ask himself the following question:
“Would you allow your children or yourself to take synthetic growth hormones at any level?” Probably not, so why would anyone want to consume meat from livestock that has been implanted or injected with growth hormones.
Antibiotics inhibit bacteria and are commonly fed in low levels to livestock to increase growth and fight infections associated with confinement in feedlots. An article in The New England Journal of Medicine suggested that the use of antibiotics in livestock feed can result in transfer to humans of bacteria (salmonella) strains resistant to antibiotics. Antibiotic use in livestock production has not been definitively proven to harm human health but it will continue to be a major issue for consumers.
Cattle that spend their lives on clean, open range rarely if ever have a need for antibiotics. Our practice is this - if we need to doctor an animal with antibiotics they will be culled from the herd and never wear the label of GrassRoots Meats. It only makes sense that if given the choice a person would choose a product free of synthetic hormones and antibiotics. With GrassRoots Meats you can feel safe because we do not subscribe to the practice of using hormone implants or antibiotics.
USDA Inspected and Certified
GrassRoots Meats utilizes USDA certified facilities located within a reasonable distance from our production operations to process cattle. These plants have USDA inspectors on site to evaluate, inspect and certify that all of our beef products meet the highest standards of quality.
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