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Christian Vegetarian Association Presents:
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Grass-fed beef
Many of us know that the terms “free-range”, “organic” or “grass-fed” are misleading ones since there are no strict regulations for their usage regarding animal products.
Surprisingly, the debate surrounding these terms concentrates on taste, nutritional advantages and health benefits for humans, and not in the welfare of these animals, which is our responsibility as stewards of God’s creation.
We should not forget that regardless of the type of food given to farmed animals, in this case steers, all of them end up in a slaughterhouse for the pleasure of our taste buds.
While it is true that animals raised for food deserve, at least, humane treatment, our focus should be to follow God’s ideal and eliminate them as our source of food. According to the following article still today in the United States there is no government definition for free-range beef.
In May the U.S. Department Agriculture (USDA) proposed a standard for grass-fed beef – not to be confused with free-range beef. Under the standard, beef with this label must come from cattle who have eaten at least 99% grass from the time of weaning until they go to the slaughterhouse.
Therefore, if the proposed standard is approved, grass-fed steers will continue grazing until sent to the slaughter house while the rest, including many certified organic cattle, will most likely spend their last couple of months in a feedlot (eating corn, barley or other grain) till they gain the rest of their desired weight before slaughter.
To read the full article please visit http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/31/AR2006073100891.html
A public comment period on the “grass-fed” standard is open until August 10; comments may be emailed to MarketingClaim@usda.gov
Your question and comments are welcome
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