How to Buy Natural Beef

The hottest trend among the carnivore cognoscenti is organic and grass-fed beef. Certified organic cows eat pesticide- and herbicide-free feed. Grass-fed cows (as opposed to industry-standard corn-fed) are free of hormones and chemicals, but not always organic. The beef is leaner and filled with heart-friendly omega-3 fatty acids.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Inquire with your local butcher, or ask your favorite steak house if it uses natural beef. If it does, ask for the farm's information.

2. Call cattle farms. Grass-fed beef is usually sold directly through small ranchers. A quarter includes steaks, short ribs, pot roast, ground beef and stew meat for $200 to $350.

3. Shop for beef online. Prather Ranch (pratherranch.com) is a great source for all-natural organic beef, or try grass-fed beef from Chileno Ranch (chilenobeef.com).

4. Look for grass-fed beef seasonally, in late spring and early summer.

5. Buy meat that's grown on a lot inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and dry-aged, vacuum-packed, frozen and shipped in insulated boxes with adequate refrigeration.

Tips & Warnings

• Line up a friend who's willing to share. When you order from a farm, you'll need to buy between a quarter and a whole side of beef.
• Make sure shipments will arrive frozen to ensure they're safe to consume.

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[seattleleanbeef]

on 9/14/2009 We are Happy Mountain Cattle Farm of Kent Washington
In business since 1966.Offering Natural Lean Beef
with our Special Breed of Miniture Kingshire.

ALL GRASS FED!RAISED IN CONVINGTON WASHINGTON ON
40 ACRES OF PROPERTY. We Sell Retail and Wholesale.
WE SHIP ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

Contact:Bill Nahalea-Sales Manager
PH(206)299-2662 Business
PH(206)478-0772 Cell

[scriptzero]

on 3/3/2009 You can find Halal organic at www.harbormeatandseafood.com, I just got some from these guy.

[circlekranch]

on 2/27/2009 I agree that butchers are an excellent way to find natural beef as well as using search engines to find local ranches with grass grazed cattle. Tip before you buy: Make sure to have a freezer capable of your meat ready, as you can store beef for around a year. Ranchers, including myself, will work with you to find others they know to buy beef with you so don't be extremely worried if your friends aren't interested.If you want more information regarding beef, such as differences in natural, all-natural, and organic, what the different cuts of meet are, news, and more you can check out our ranch website. http://GotAngus.comGood luck from the Circle K Black Angus Ranch

[christine-smi]

on 10/15/2007 2 separate issues - Halal ONLY refers to the method of killing the animal. The way the animal was raised, what it was fed, what kind of conditions it was kept in while alive, and if it was given any antibiotics or not have NOTHING to do with halal. Halal means the animal was killed with a sharp knife through the throat while saying, "this animal is killed in the name of God". The death must be quick as part of the qualifications of halal butchering.

[kennett786]

on 4/8/2007 The Halal method of killing an animal, when done properly and following the strict conditions set down is a very natural and probably the most humane way to kill the animal for food. There are a number of issues - irrespective of how you may feel from a religious perspective about it. Firstly the animal to be slaughtered is taken away from the sight of animals so that they should not witness the fate which is about to befall them. Secondly, for a small animal it is recommended to try and calm the animal, for a large animal this is difficult and potentially dangerous and so it may require tethering. The animal is killed swiftly with a VERY SHARP knife by cutting the 2 major blood vessels in the neck as well as the wind pipe. When the vessels are severed the animal will immediately lose conciousness. The blood is drained from the animal and this is healthier for our own consumption rather than to leave stale, clotted blood in the meat. People often remark that this improves the flavour of the meat itself. When you compare this to the usual way of electrocuting the animal to stun them before cutting of the head or slitting the throat anyway, or firing a bolt through the head then you must realise that electrocution is a painful experience, the animal is in ridgid spasm and not relaxed or pain free in any way at the point of its death and it is by no way a natural way to die. Unfortunately most people do not look very objectively at these facts - their opinion seems to be tainted by a hatred of Islam because of their own religious intolerance or a warped perception fed by a distorted and bias media coverage of these issues.