Industrial Meat Processing More and more, small meat processors are being replaced by large plants that can process up to 400 animals per hour on each line. This is incredible efficiency, providing profit to the packing industry, and, in theory, inexpensive meat for the consumer. But this efficiency comes at a price. One concern is […]
Alderspring Beef Not Irradiated
Alderspring beef is not irradiated. We believe the evidence is fairly strong that irradiation is harmful, but given the risk of food poisoning (see ECOLI) from beef, irradiation may be the lesser of two evils. With grass grown beef and small-scale inspected processing, the risk of E. coli is dramatically lower, eliminating the justification for […]
Alderspring Organic No Pesticides
Pesticides and Insecticides Most beef (including much sold under natural beef labels) have been treated with insecticides to control external and internal parasites. Most internal parasites are controlled with a pour-on external treatment (read carefully here- yes, an insecticide applied to the back of an animal will eliminate or reduce internal parasites). These pesticides are […]
Fast Facts Industrial Beef
Info “bits” about Industrial Beef This is a hodgepodge collection of information I’ve found in print and on the web. Some of it is from sources that are completely trustworthy, others from sources that might be a bit more suspect. In spite of the latter, however, I find it interesting the variety of criticisms that […]
Grassfed Beef is Lean
Grass fed beef has a fatty acid profile similar to that of wild game, with about half the fat and fewer calories than grain fed beef (Table 1). Table 1. Fatty acids and calories in 100gs of uncooked lean meat Fatty acid class Pronghorn antelope Mule deer Elk Bison Grass Fed beef Grain Fed beef […]
Alderspring Beef No Hormones
At Alderspring Ranch, we use no hormones in growing our cattle. Nearly all beef consumed in the United States comes from animals that have been administered synthetic hormones by inserting a slow-release pellet into the ear. The implants are designed to run out of hormone before slaughter. An assessment of the risks of hormones in […]