Yes I have heard off this film, I also have heard that it is very biased. I don't watch much propaganda.
I'm really not sure where to start.
So lets start with grass fed Beef? to those who buy grass fed beef why is this you preference? I have eaten it and it really hasn't made me go wow that's good. Great beef is a passion of mine!!
On the heritage breeds, one person commented that they raise them for their personal consumption what's the reason.
Micheal Pollan: Omnivore's Dilemma, really what is the dilemma. It seems a little neurotic to me or worse, guilt mongering. I have no dilemma when it comes to eating, I eat very well
Now a quick bit about me, I am owner and operator of a small family farm in the NE mainly raising beef along with chickens, meat and dairy goats (yes, we have made the microwave Mozzarella and made pizza for dinner that night also makes good lasagna). I belong to the 60% of Farmers that are small under $1mill in sales, that percentage will vary depending on who's reporting. This is were my passion for great beef comes from I LOVE a great steak and i eat it on a regular basis.
I hybrid feed my steers they get grain and pasture. The reason is, and there are many studies dating back to the late 50's and early 60's that grass feed animals will be on average 25% tougher then grain feed steers. That's why I grain my steers, the single most satisfying factor surveyed by the NCBA (National Cattlemens Beef Assoc.) is tenderness, it beats out tatse!! .
It's true and I wont argue that grass feed beef will have a "healthier" fat profile then grain fed, but here's a little bit of info that isn't well known that profile is gene dependent, meaning a grain fed steer can have a "healthier" fat profile then an all grass fed steer. Waygu cattle, the breed that can be called Kobe beef, if raised in Kobe, Japan. Kobe beef is fed all grain and has the healthiest fat profile.
Cheap food, think of how you feel after a good a filling meal, you are kind of complacent. if we had a lot of hungry people Washington would have a very different political profile. I have read that the cost for a dozen eggs if adjusted for inflation since the 50's would cost about $7.00/dozen how many would pay $7.00. I struggle to sell free range eggs at $2.50, I have eaten free range eggs before free range was a buzz word. They definitely are richer tasting. What the average American pays as a percentage of the income dollar has dropped from +/- 40% at the start of the 20th the century to now a decade into the 21st century which is around 10% - 20% ( the 20% I think includes eating out and fast food) a significant change
The agricultural system is in a precarious position. The cost of land far exceeds the value of any product that could be produced on, it except for maybe drugs.
Processing of meat is held by 2 companies and 1 which is a Brazilian company is trying to buy the other. Processing is the biggest headache I face. I have to schedule a slot at the USDA inspected facility (which I have to legally if I want to sell to the consumer) a year in advance at least I the animal I am scheduling is actually on the ground. One facility that I talked to is scheduling 2 years in advance, that means the animal is barely just conceived!!
I do not process any animals myself, I cant do it, not that I lack the skill, I just cant do it. I take good care of my animals as do 99% of all farmers, the mistreatment is once the animal leaves the farm and is under some one else's care. The video that came out from the political action group PETA of the worker using a forklift the roll a cow enraged me. But, a lot and i do mean alot of the workers in those large processing facilities are immigrant workers mostly form South America. I was once at the Largest goat and sheep processing facility in the US and I didn't see any English speaking people and the door on the USDA inspectors office was closed. Read into that what all you want The workers at the facilities have a different cultural view of the animals and just working in the processing facility desensitizes you.
Just a little perspective a good year selling calves that weight around 600# and are about 6-8months old will be a profit of $100-$150, typical is about $50.00, this year will be about -$100 with no improvement in site. It is approximately 17months from conception before selling it as a 600# calf.
Just remember that all life is carbon based, once carbon has been regulated and controlled, all life will be regulated and controlled.
A little glimpse of reality
Paul W
Mad Cow Brewing
Have a cow Man!