I haven't seen this subject mentioned, wonder whether people are aware of recent research findings. In studying the question of why in earlier (last century) times people were able to eat meat, eggs, etc. without the resulting problems with heart attacks, etc. an important discovery was made. This pertains to egg, milk and meat production. On a grass diet the animal's fatty acid is predominately omega-3. Start feeding grain to that animal, and over a short period (2 months) the fatty acid balance changes so that omega-6 is predoninate. It has also been found that the grain feeding changes the acid balance in the rumen, allowing the growth of bacteria, specifically E-coli. This has been identified as one of the main causes of the proliferation of E-coli bacteria. Please see studies done by Jo Robinson, author or the Omega-3 Diet book. We have been raising and selling grass fed beef for years. The animals do get grain when they are very young, before and during weaning, until they are around six months old. After that no more grain is ever fed. The people who buy from us have, without exception, said the beef was tender and flavorful.

-- Dianne Wood (woodgoat@pacifier.com), April 28, 2002

Answers

I've wondered how all that works. I seen on t.v. of having omega-3 eggs. It got me to wondering how do you produce a omega-3 egg and how do you know which egg is different from another egg. Maybe what you just explained about beef is also true for chickens/eggs.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), April 28, 2002.

Feed your chickens flax seed to get a high omega-3 fat content egg.

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), April 29, 2002.

We have been buying only grass-fed beef for three years now. Before that, we would occasionally buy a side of beef from a neighbor who heavily grain-fed his beef for the last three months or so before slaughter. Never again! The flavor difference between grass and grain-fed beef is amazing!!! I am sure glad to know that it's much healthier, too!! Thanks for the information, Dianne.

-- Marcia (HrMr@webtv.net), April 29, 2002.

Anyone know how this applies to pigs.....feeding them grain instead of them rooting for their food?

-- Sue (sulandherb@aol.com), April 29, 2002.

latest issue of MOTHER EARTH NEWS has a very good article on this subject and yes pastured pork is much better and better for you also!

-- tim (goathillfarm50@aol.com), April 29, 2002.

Maybe if the rest of the country comes to understand this, there might be enough public outcry that the beef industry (dairy industry, chicken industry, etc.) will change and stop the hormones, antibiotics and starlink, and feed their animals grasses. When you read what genetically modified foods have done to laboratory animals, it's a wonder that we're here at all - and not filling up the hospitals!

-- Nina (Ingardenwithcat@hotmail.com), April 29, 2002.

Farmers will grow whatever people buy.

_Most_ people buy fast food, including at home fast prep times. Most people like high fat & convienient foods that are cheap.

So most farmers raise the raw ingredients that go into high fat cheap foods. That is what is demanded.

If people ask for something different (with the pocketbook!) then something different will be produced.

Pay for it, and it will come. It's that simple.

--->Paul

-- paul (ramblerplm@hotmail.com), April 29, 2002.

Also milk from grass-fed cows is better. We have people here who raise the grass-fed beef & pastured poultry, but no milk cows - yet.

-- Bonnie (stichart@plix.com), April 29, 2002.