Corn Fed vs. Grass Fed Beef free essay sample

Rashad Mckinney Make-up Essay Holy cow, I haven’t eaten any beef or any red meat in over thirteen years. When I first saw the topic of this essay to discuss the primary differences between grass fed and corn fed beef. I had thought to myself hmmm I was thinking all cows had just ate grass. I always thought cow’s were slow food because they ate grass but I wondered how so much beef was being produced so fast, but then I thought about all the chicken steroid stories. Cows are ruminants designed by nature to stay healthy and be totally sustained taking nourishment on grass and only grass. Cows, have stomachs that are designed to digest grass. But of demand and because cattle producers are so profit driven, their operations use the cheapest feed available to make their cows bigger the fastest way possible. Cattle producers use corn fed with soy for their feed, because the protein rich grains that fatten up their cows, and because they are cheaper. We will write a custom essay sample on Corn Fed vs. Grass Fed Beef or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page A lot of the corn, supplement, etc. feeds may contain meat from different animals or the same species, bits of feathers, meat from diseased animals, hooves, animals waste, skin, blood, hair, antibiotics and unhealthy amounts of grain that may have led to the mad cow disease, but that’s another essay in itself. Cattle were not designed to eat corn or grain. Raising cows on grass is natural and not only makes sense for a cow’s digestive systems, but it makes sense for us human beings too, by turning something we don’t eat, grass into something we can eat in meat, milk, cheese and other dairy products. Cattle that are free range and are raised on grass provides meat that is leaner, higher in vitamins and lower in fat calories than the hybrid cow’s. It was interesting to find out that grass fed beef has about the same amount of fat a skinless chicken, and will actually lower your cholesterol levels. Learning from being in this phase wine and beverage class, just as soil affects the quality of wine, a cows diet can change the quality of its meat. Like all slow food, grass fed beef doesn’t have the same consistency as corn fed beef because unlike corn or grain feed it has added antibiotics and other things to make it consistent unlike grass that changes during climate changes. Grass fed beef wont look and doesn’t taste exactly the same every time you buy it. Grass-fed beef also has a reputation for being tough and lacking tenderness, but is said to be more juicier and true beefy flavor. Some studies show there isnt a real clear-cut, consistent taste differences between grass fed and corn fed beef. Corn fed beef has more fat than grass fed beef so the cook, chef would have more room for error with some corn fed beef rather than some grass fed because that fat adds flavor that you can lose if you overcook leaner grass fed beef. But like the organic free range chicken and regular grocery store chicken we had in contemparary class, being raised on corn fed beef, the texture and flavor of grass fed beef can taste a bit off and we may think it doesn’t taste how true beef should taste. The styrofoam containers of corn and grain fed convential beef that are at the Shop and Save’s, Schnucks will be more cheaper than a pack of grass fed beef at Whole foods or any other local markets that sell grass fed beef. You probably could get grass fed beef for the same price as your corn beef a Diebergs or other grocery stores if you where to buy directly from a farmer of livestock. Traditionally, before man started to produce and make a living off of cow’s, all beef was grass fed beef, but due to the man’s greed the cow will eat growth hormone feed nowadays. I remember seeing some show about cow’s and how they were so big and overdeveloped that they couldn’t even walk and they were just milk makers. After researching breeds, the best breeds of cattle for grass fed beef is Murray Grey cattle or the â€Å"Orie cookie cow† the Belted Galloway cattle or an English breed such as a Shorthorn cattle, Angus cattle, Red Angus cattle, and Hereford cattle. The Highland cattle also have not lost the ability to thrive on grass alone. The Canadienne cattle, Florida Cracker cattle, Devon cattle, Red Polled cattle, Randall Lineback cattle, and Ayrshire cattle are good cow’s to breed for grass fed beef in smaller farms than a big commercial one. I think grass fed beef would be more suited for a braised brisket, chuck roast or short ribs, or pan fried liver or cube steak because it is a tougher meat. If you cook low and slow enough, you can make any cut fall-off-the-bone, and be fork-tender.