Joel Salatin is co-owner of Polyface Farms and author of half a dozen books on sustainable
farming.The problem: Cattle evolved to eat grass, not grains. But farmers today feed their
animals corn and soybeans, which fatten up the animals faster for slaughter. But more
money for cattle farmers (and lower prices at the grocery store) means a lot less nutrition
for us. A recent comprehensive study conducted by the USDA and researchers from
Clemson University found that compared with corn-fed beef, grass-fed beef is higher in
beta-carotene, vitamin E, omega-3s, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), calcium, magnesium,
and potassium; lower in inflammatory omega-6s; and lower in saturated fats that have
been linked to heart disease. “We need to respect the fact that cows are herbivores, and
that does not mean feeding them corn and chicken manure,” says Salatin.The solution:
Buy
grass-fed beef, which can be found at specialty grocers, farmers’ markets, and nationally
at
Whole Foods. It’s usually labeled because it demands a premium, but if you don’t see it,
ask your butcher.
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