Re: Organic versus conventional

[Guest guest]

go to our website and see what our grass finished beef is like. Grass finished, with the right genetics and feed, does not have to be tough.

Debbie ChikouskyManitoba, Canadawww.chikouskyfarms.comNo man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session. -Mark Twain (1866)

RE: Organic versus conventional

I think for the market you are trying to tap.. (my personal opinion) of course they don’t want GMO.. but that buyer is sophisticated and knowledgeable.. and as much as non GMO is important the biggest question is why would you feed a grazer like a cow.. corn in the first place? These people want naturally raised animals.. in my experience and cows never ate corn until modern times and like some posters have said it changes their PH and chinks the whole cycle we are looking to preserve. One will little interference becuasue the animals are raise in ideal surroundings for their type. Cow eat grass. A sophisticated buyer knows that rotational grass feeding is what is needed .. for that market at least

[Guest guest]

Debbie, You and one other person mentioned this, but both of you also mentioned 'with the right feed'.............I may not have explained it correctly in my post, but pasture and feed is how I like mine finished. Am I reading your post incorrectly, is that not what you meant by "Grass finished, with the right genetics and feed........" because when I purchased grass fed with some feed, it was very tender and flavorful. I really believe I could feel the difference also in the nutrition in it, I felt satisfied.

Vickie

go to our website and see what our grass finished beef is like. Grass finished, with the right genetics and feed, does not have to be tough.

Debbie ChikouskyManitoba, Canadawww.chikouskyfarms.comNo man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session. -Mark Twain (1866)

RE: Organic versus conventional

I think for the market you are trying to tap.. (my personal opinion) of course they don’t want GMO.. but that buyer is sophisticated and knowledgeable.. and as much as non GMO is important the biggest question is why would you feed a grazer like a cow.. corn in the first place? These people want naturally raised animals.. in my experience and cows never ate corn until modern times and like some posters have said it changes their PH and chinks the whole cycle we are looking to preserve. One will little interference becuasue the animals are raise in ideal surroundings for their type. Cow eat grass. A sophisticated buyer knows that rotational grass feeding is what is needed .. for that market at least

[Guest guest]

Vickie,

We raise our beef on grass and hay only. When we load the steer up and take it

to the processor that meat ends up tough. We've hung them for up to a month and

they are still a bit " chewy " . When we put out new hay, he puts his head down to

eat and Larry shoots him the meat is wonderful. I think the difference is the

excitement and stress of loading, unloading and being in an unfamiliar place,

not necessarily grain or no grain. That said, we do not process beef for others.

Belinda

>

> Here;s some food for thought............

>

> I don't disagree with consumers wanting all grass fed, but it is important to

know that all grass fed beef is more than likely going to be tough to chew.

The grain is what puts the marbling in the meats and makes it tender. Tough to

choose between the two.

> I want nothing to do with feed lot meat, ever, or antibiotics or hormones, my

preference is to buy from a farmer who has the calves on full pasture with a

daily dose of grain.

> I have had both, and the grass fed beef was just really very very lean and

tough to chew, no matter how I cook it.

> I prefer a little grain feed and full pasture to grass fed only. Just my

thoughts on it.........

>

> Vickie Osborn

>

> From: Crystal Palmer-Bull

> To: RawDairy

> Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 3:42 PM

> Subject: RE: Organic versus conventional

>

>

>

>

> I think for the market you are trying to tap.. (my personal opinion) of

course they don't want GMO.. but that buyer is sophisticated and knowledgeable..

and as much as non GMO is important the biggest question is why would you feed a

grazer like a cow.. corn in the first place? These people want naturally raised

animals.. in my experience and cows never ate corn until modern times and like

some posters have said it changes their PH and chinks the whole cycle we are

looking to preserve. One will little interference becuasue the animals are raise

in ideal surroundings for their type. Cow eat grass. A sophisticated buyer knows

that rotational grass feeding is what is needed .. for that market at least

>

[Guest guest]

I agree, Debbie. I've always been perplexed that many feel grass-fed beef is

categorically tough, or that it is always lean. I remember a meeting I attended

9 years ago when some people in our state were applying for a SARE grant to

start a grass-farmers network. A Penn state SARE board member made the comment

that we will have a hard time overcoming the general perception that grass-fed

animals were not what the old timers called " range beef " .

I guess those of us who pay attention to genetics and grass and rotation

management will have to continue overcoming this perception one customer at a

time.

I had the experience of losing a customer once who was under the care of a

conventional cardiologist for a heart condition. She wouldn't purchase any more

grass-fed beef because mine had " too much fat in it " !

>

> go to our website and see what our grass finished beef is like. Grass

finished, with the right genetics and feed, does not have to be tough.

>

> Debbie Chikousky

> Manitoba, Canada

> www.chikouskyfarms.com

[Guest guest]

,

What a shame your customer and her conventonal cardiologist didn't realize the fat in your grass finished beef is EXACTLY what her heart (and her brain) need for good health and function.

The book "Steak" by Mark Schatzker is a great read and in it he says that the BEST steak he ever ate was grass fed and the WORST steak he ever ate was grass fed and that has been my experience. I am in the steep part of the learning curve in this business and I don't know how high this hill is.

Re: Organic versus conventional

I agree, Debbie. I've always been perplexed that many feel grass-fed beef is categorically tough, or that it is always lean. I remember a meeting I attended 9 years ago when some people in our state were applying for a SARE grant to start a grass-farmers network. A Penn state SARE board member made the comment that we will have a hard time overcoming the general perception that grass-fed animals were not what the old timers called "range beef".I guess those of us who pay attention to genetics and grass and rotation management will have to continue overcoming this perception one customer at a time.I had the experience of losing a customer once who was under the care of a conventional cardiologist for a heart condition. She wouldn't purchase any more grass-fed beef because mine had "too much fat in it"!>> go to our website and see what our grass finished beef is like. Grass finished, with the right genetics and feed, does not have to be tough.> > Debbie Chikousky> Manitoba, Canada> www.chikouskyfarms.com

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[Guest guest]

No I didn't mean feed as in grain I meant feed as in really good quality forage. It is well documented that even a little grain changes the composition of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids along with reducing CLA. If you want your food to be your medicine this is important which is why we feed only grasses and high quality grass forages to our beef animals. We also allow them to finish at an age where they would be naturally finished most of their growth, such as two years old for a dairy cross steer.

If you don't like grass finished beef you have eaten I would venture a guess it isn't grown properly.

Debbie ChikouskyManitoba, Canadawww.chikouskyfarms.comNo man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session. -Mark Twain (1866)

RE: Organic versus conventional

I think for the market you are trying to tap.. (my personal opinion) of course they don’t want GMO.. but that buyer is sophisticated and knowledgeable.. and as much as non GMO is important the biggest question is why would you feed a grazer like a cow.. corn in the first place? These people want naturally raised animals.. in my experience and cows never ate corn until modern times and like some posters have said it changes their PH and chinks the whole cycle we are looking to preserve. One will little interference becuasue the animals are raise in ideal surroundings for their type. Cow eat grass. A sophisticated buyer knows that rotational grass feeding is what is needed .. for that market at least