USDA
STANDARDS FOR GRASSFED BEEF
However,
the consumer should feel free to ask what practices are followed
on the farm where the beef they’re purchasing was grown.
“Organic
grassfed beef” (different from ‘organic beef’ which is cattle fed
organic grain) means that the farm has gone through a lengthy certification
process with ongoing filing requirements. For many small farms,
this process is an onerous one taking time away from chores in order
to fill out paperwork. Instead, you may hear the terms ‘organic
practices’ or ‘best practices’. These terms are not yet standardized.
Many
farmers on the small farms raising grassfed beef wanted the government
to go further with the standards and include the practices they
commonly use, such as keeping the animals unconfined on range or
pasture year-round, and eliminating the use of antibiotics, growth
hormones and genetically modified feed. Mack Brook Farm considers
these 'best practices' for both the animals and the enviroment and
it is how we raise our cattle.
Other
considerations when purchasing grassfed beef include how far the
animal traveled from the farm to the processor and how far the meat
traveled to the consumer. Less miles mean less stress on the animal
and less fuel consumed. We are lucky to have a USDA processor just
5 miles from the farm. As a small farm, our meat is only sold locally.