Pasture-Finished Beef

By Matt Tiefenbrun

What is Pasture-Finished Beef?

• Raising Beef Cattle strictly on forages– Generally Naturally Raised or Organic– Generally Management-Intensive Grazing

History of Pasture-Finished Beef (PFB)

- Beef cattle were originally raised and finished on forages

- As early as the 1950s, beef cattle started to be finished on a high energy high grain diet.

- The popularity of PFB is growing again

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Strategies for Raising PFB

• Watering Systems– Tire tanks– Gravity feed systems

• Grazing Strategies– Management intensive– Continuous grazing– Stockpiling

• Health – Parasite Control– Disease Control

• Breed

Benefits of PFB for Farmer

• Conservation

• Profit

• Pride in Product

• Symbiosis

• Ethical Treatment of Animals

Conservation

• Keeping forages much healthier

• Bring back native species of grasses

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Profit

• Higher profits if managed correctly

-Hay costs

-Higher price for meat

-Usually directly marketed

Pride in Product

• If you have pride in product its easier to market and sell

• Feel good about selling quality healthy meat

Symbiosis

• Raising different species to benefit each other

Ethical Treatment of Animals

• A happy cow is the best kind of cow

Benefits of PFB for Consumers

• Health

• Community

• Ethical Treatment of Animals

Benefits to your Health

• PFB has 3 to 6 times more CLA(conjugated linoleic acid) than conventional feedlot cattle

• PFB is also higher in Omega-3 fatty acids compared to omega-6 fatty acids

• Lower in fat• Usually there are no antibiotics or growth

hormones• Cows lead much healthier lives

Benefits to the Community

• The community can get quality fresh product

• Gives people jobs

• Keeps small farms around

• Connects consumers with the source of their food

Benefits for Animals

• Cows live natural lives

Environmental benefits

• Can bring back native grass species

• Evenly distributes manure and urine over field

PFB Challenges

• For Farmer–Marketing

• Can be hard to find reliable buyer

–Land• Expensive• Need high quality pasture

Challenges for Consumers

• Palatability– Tenderness– Stronger flavor

• Price– More expensive

• Availability– Can be hard to find

Different techniques based on PFB

• Grain supplementation– Giving grain supplements while still on

pasture

• Feeding whole corn plants– Put cheap gains on cattle but still keep a

healthy cow

Conclusion

• Healthy alternative to conventional feedlot beef

• Brings communities together

• Gives back to the environment instead of taking away from it

Questions?