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There's another thread that talks in length about the process of raising cattle (and it's effect on the environment).
I saw a documentary on public television the other day about American farmers and how they have changed so much in the past 100 years (especially the last 50). The film went on to state that most of the corn in the U.S. is high starch corn, also known as feed corn (can't eat it because it taste like crap, it has to be processed first). This corn is breed to have high starch because it fattens cows up and it's perfect for high fructose corn syrup. So, 50% of the corn goes to cattle, and the other half goes to biofuel and "food" (high fructose corn syrup). The corn literally speeds up the process of bringing cows to market because it makes them obese (the stated statistic was 6% fat in a corn fed beef vs. 1% fat in cow fed beef, I don't know what cut of meat they are talking about). Corn is not a natural diet for cows, so, that is why they are given antibiotics (I've read that most of the antibiotics produced is given to livestock???) - the unnatural diet gives them ulcers and they would die from their diet anyway if they weren't slaughtered first.
Anyway, I don't eat meat anymore - I just recently converted to a vegetarian diet. But if I were to buy beef for my husband, it would be grass fed free range.
The reason for the higher grade given to grain fed cattle is economic. Way back when, corn was grown to feed horses that were used for everything from transportation to farm work, and thus needed the higher energy provided by corn (which is not a natural food for corn - however, cows WILL eat corn on their own right off the stalk if they accidentally get into a cornfield - I've not seen a horse do that, though I have seen them eat sunflower heads, they love the seeds). When the internal combustion engine came along and replaced the horse, the farmers who had been growing corn for horses were suddenly in big trouble. The government at that time started grading beef and, coincidentally, gave higher fat beef a higher grade, thus cornfed beef, and, thus, the farmers were saved.
Isn't history interesting?
For me, grass fed is much better than corn fed for the flavor, if nothing else. Grass fed has more flavor, albeit it's not as tender, than corn fed.
Location: New Albany, Indiana (Greater Louisville)
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I'm surprised that high of a percentage of cattle aren't hay fed. Much of my family raise beef cattle in rural KY and ALL of them are pasture raised and hay fed, but aren't considered organic.
NPR's Science Friday talked about this yesterday. Cutting out red meat and dairy from our diets would have a greater impact on our carbon footprint than adhering to the 100 Mile Diet. The suggestion was to eat more white meats, chicken, pork and fish.
Tried that, doesn't work for me. The variation in what our bodies need and do well on is great enough that if you take politics and political correctness out of the equation, there is no one size fits all answer to dietary matters.
1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
4. The Italians drink excessive amounts of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
CONCLUSION:
Eat and drink what you like.
Speaking English is apparently what kills you.
Location: New Albany, Indiana (Greater Louisville)
11,969 posts, read 25,568,746 times
Reputation: 12193
Quote:
Originally Posted by mommabear2
There's another thread that talks in length about the process of raising cattle (and it's effect on the environment).
I saw a documentary on public television the other day about American farmers and how they have changed so much in the past 100 years (especially the last 50). The film went on to state that most of the corn in the U.S. is high starch corn, also known as feed corn (can't eat it because it taste like crap, it has to be processed first). This corn is breed to have high starch because it fattens cows up and it's perfect for high fructose corn syrup. So, 50% of the corn goes to cattle, and the other half goes to biofuel and "food" (high fructose corn syrup). The corn literally speeds up the process of bringing cows to market because it makes them obese (the stated statistic was 6% fat in a corn fed beef vs. 1% fat in cow fed beef, I don't know what cut of meat they are talking about). Corn is not a natural diet for cows, so, that is why they are given antibiotics (I've read that most of the antibiotics produced is given to livestock???) - the unnatural diet gives them ulcers and they would die from their diet anyway if they weren't slaughtered first.
Anyway, I don't eat meat anymore - I just recently converted to a vegetarian diet. But if I were to buy beef for my husband, it would be grass fed free range.
I believe you're talking about the King Corn film on PBS's Independent Lens.
That film is available in its entirety on Google videos.
Personally I eat very little red meat (mainly for homemade chili) and here in KY there is a local organic farm where the cows are grass fed and not given antibiotics that is sold in all local markets. I also boil most of the fat off my meat before I eat it
Tried that, doesn't work for me. The variation in what our bodies need and do well on is great enough that if you take politics and political correctness out of the equation, there is no one size fits all answer to dietary matters.
Actually, the radio program didn't say to cut out all red meat and dairy, just be aware of the consequences of our actions. I think that many Americans eat too much red meat and too often. And cheese is worse than milk.
Another reason I eat red meat in moderation is because I believe that the hormones and antibiotics in the meat are especially bad for me as a woman. Especially the hormones, and it's my personal belief that breast cancer is linked to all the hormones in our food products. So the beef that I eat is usually organic beef.
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and they would die from their diet anyway if they weren't slaughtered first. 
