Winter feed for 100% Grassfed cows

[Guest guest]

Be careful with the term " grass-based " dairy or beef. That often

means they are fed supplemental grains in the winter, or even in the

summer (often in a trough on the grass, or " just a little " while

milking). 100% grassfed means they are only fed grass which is

still in the field under the snow, stored hay, or silage (fermented

hay) during the winter and fresh grass at all other times.

You can support northern farms and still have maximum CLAs and Omega-

3s by buying your meat from animals slaughtered from late spring to

early winter. Only those animals that go to market mid-winter to

early spring are coming off an accumulation of " stored feed " , and

show a slight decrease in the CLAs. Cows that are feed any grain,

or grain at sometime in their life have a lower value. See the

research of Dr. Tilak Dhiman, www.eatwild.com, and

http://www.americangrassfed.org

Do not confuse these labels with the USDA definition which is

influenced by Big Ag. Ask the farmer direct questions: Do you ever

give grain, under any circumstances? They usually will give you an

honest answer, as they usually believe it is necessary, or they

wouldn't spend the extra money to do it.

You may also want to ask if the grass, hay, or any supplemental

grain is Organic or could meet organic certification rules.

Otherwise you may have fertilizers, herbicides, and GMO hay or grain

in your beef/milk.

Janice

www.blackberryridgellc.com

> >

> > It's called grass-based dairy when winter herds are fed from

> stored summer hay. It's not the same as summer supply just as

winter

> eggs are not from living pasture forage. The only way to support a

> year-around food system in MN is with stored feed for the best

> possible local food product.

[Guest guest]

Janice,

I'm getting tired of people talking about Doctors and authors and well

knowns across the country trying to give me advice about what is best for me!

I'm getting tired of almost everyone in the organic marketplace looking for the

next " great spin " on a product that should be just as basic as possible in order

to be healthy. We been living in near poverty for six years- trying to market

the best year-a-round eggs in the state- only to be pushed around by summer

hobbyists who read a book and now are farmers- ready to supply a growing market

of consumers that we educated last winter. If you think as a group that you've

learned as much about toxic bacteria, or bio-chemicals or ag and suburb and golf

course pollution as I have researched and lived with for the last 30 years-

you're in a group with Will and very few others of this group that understand

what is optimal health and what is affordable. Period.

Anyone that's currently working with our farm' resources knows me to be very

reserved, quiet, etc. If you want to know what really gets me going about what

I'm doing- email me offlist or stop by the Midtown market and visit. Janice-

Sorry about the slam but the previous question was about production food like

milk or eggs that you don't keep available by slaughtering in the fall. It's not

about your particular post, but accumulated posts in recent weeks along with

more local ingredients mixed in.

This is how I live my life: If I know the land, the farmer, the county and

township where my food comes from and it is as good as I can find- I recommend

it for my parents, my adult kids (who may well could be teaching your kids in

the future) and anyone else who trusts my ability to find good sources of good

food. I can't afford the " best " food that is promoted by our country's finest

experts. I can't afford to drive to get it, make it into yogurt or butter or

kefir. I can afford to support our state's sustainable family farmers who are

trying to make a livng as am I- doing the best they can and always looking for

effective ways to improve. Alvin- Pastured organic eggs from Freeport MN

" bellasol.organics " <bellasol.organics@...> wrote:

Be careful with the term " grass-based " dairy or beef. That often

means they are fed supplemental grains in the winter, or even in the

summer (often in a trough on the grass, or " just a little " while

milking). 100% grassfed means they are only fed grass which is

still in the field under the snow, stored hay, or silage (fermented

hay) during the winter and fresh grass at all other times.

You can support northern farms and still have maximum CLAs and Omega-

3s by buying your meat from animals slaughtered from late spring to

early winter. Only those animals that go to market mid-winter to

early spring are coming off an accumulation of " stored feed " , and

show a slight decrease in the CLAs. Cows that are feed any grain,

or grain at sometime in their life have a lower value. See the

research of Dr. Tilak Dhiman, www.eatwild.com, and

http://www.americangrassfed.org

Do not confuse these labels with the USDA definition which is

influenced by Big Ag. Ask the farmer direct questions: Do you ever

give grain, under any circumstances? They usually will give you an

honest answer, as they usually believe it is necessary, or they

wouldn't spend the extra money to do it.

You may also want to ask if the grass, hay, or any supplemental

grain is Organic or could meet organic certification rules.

Otherwise you may have fertilizers, herbicides, and GMO hay or grain

in your beef/milk.

Janice

www.blackberryridgellc.com

> >

> > It's called grass-based dairy when winter herds are fed from

> stored summer hay. It's not the same as summer supply just as

winter

> eggs are not from living pasture forage. The only way to support a

> year-around food system in MN is with stored feed for the best

> possible local food product.

---------------------------------

All-new - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done faster.