Greener Pastures: How Grass-fed Beef and Milk Contribute to Healthy Eating

Industrial Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) are harmful to the health of the animals, the health of the environment, and the health of consumers. Nitrogen contamination in well water has been linked to increased rates of miscarriage in nearby populations. Also, feeding ruminant animals raises the acidity of their stomachs, which selects for acid-resistant E. Coli which would otherwise be killed in the acidic stomachs of humans. Furthermore, methane from CAFOs contributes to global warming. Pasture-fed beef has been found to have higher concentrations of Conjugated Linoleic Acid, Omega-3 fatty acids, and lower saturated fat. Greener Pastures is a document promoting the transition of the United States industrial corn-fed beef operations to pasture-feeding. It provides an analysis of the technical and economic feasibility of pasture-fed programs in the United States.