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Regenerative vs. CAFO Raised Beef First, let me wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! As 2025 comes to a close, I can't help but feel incredibly grateful for the loyalty and support of so many of our customers who depend on our farm to provide nutrient-dense, clean protein to feed their families. What a blessing this is and a responsibility we take seriously.
Recently, David - one of our Madison customers, asked if I "would address the down side of grain-finished beef for those of us who don't know."
I would like to approach the subject from the perspective of reading a label on a package of "food" in the grocery store. And state the obvious that what your food eats (ingredients on the label) you also eat. It is important to also note that Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) applies to all commercially raised beef, pork, chicken, eggs, turkeys, etc.
The first ingredient would be how the calf was raised from birth to sale into the feedlot (CAFO) system. Generally, the calf is raised on pasture and eats a monoculture grass because the farmer was taught to spray pastures to kill weeds that compete for nutrients. The farmer does not have a grazing management system that regularly moves the cows whereas to improve soil health. The farmer will till his soil and spread fertilizer or maybe chicken litter (cheaper, but will include glyphosate chemical from grain fed chickens). If insect pests infest his pasture the farmer will spray to kill the pest - unfortunately, the spray will also kill the hundreds or thousands of beneficial insects. Lastly, the farmer will vaccinate his calves to include Blackleg, Antibiotic, and a 5 or 7-way (the number of different vaccines included in a single injection) because the sale barn says vaccinated calves bring more money.
At Nature's Gourmet Farm our calves are born and raised on a very diverse forage pasture. We DO NOT spray to kill weeds or insects for any reason. Rarely, in developing pastures we will spread some commercial fertilizer (we quit spreading chicken litter over 10 years ago) because without forage, the cows don't have anything to eat and thus cannot improve soil health where the soil can provide nutrients to the plants for the animals. We prefer to make compost from our farm that is then sprayed onto our pastures. Compost includes beneficial soil biology that is responsible for transferring soil nutrients for plant use. We do not till our pastures. Planting is accomplished with a no-till drill. Our calves are only vaccinated for Blackleg, We do not vaccinate with Antibiotics or the 5 or 7-way drug.
We use what is known as Adaptive Grazing Management to determine when to move our cows to a fresh pasture with the goal of a short grazing period followed by a long rest period to allow the plant to fully recover before cows return.
The second ingredient would include the period after weaning till harvest. Once the farmer sells his calves at the local sale barn, the buyer transports them to a feed lot. The 2022 Ag Census showed about 2,000 large feedlots of 1,000+ head that handle 85% plus of CAFO-fed cattle. Most of the feedlots are in West Texas and Kansas.
Sometimes a picture is better at describing differences than words. Below is from work we did probably 10 years ago. CAFO beef diet is heavy in GMO corn and soy because it will speed up their growth and fat in the animal vs their natural diet on pasture. This saves the feedlot owners money, but negatively affects the animals health as well as human nutrition and health who choose to consume animals fed GMO feed.
This chart is from research performed by Dr. Don Huber. Two important things to notice. First, the amount of Glyphosate & Formaldehyde found in GMO Corn that animals and then humans consume. Second, is proof how much greater nutrient density is for Non-GMO corn vs. GMO corn.
This is a group of Nature's Gourmet Farm weaned cattle grazing a diverse pasture. Our animals spend their complete lives on pasture.
 The third and final ingredient is processing. At harvest time CAFO raised animals are taken to massive processing plants that harvest up to 6,000 head of beef per day - about 7.2 million pounds live weight. As you can imagine, it is a very automated process. Efficiency is a critical control point to enhance plant profits. Cattle arrive in tractor trailer rigs - will take about 144 loads for 6,000 head per day per processing plant. Cattle arrive from multiple CAFO fed lots and before that from thousands of farms and ranches across the country. Here, the cattle lose all connection from their birthplace as well as the CAFO where they were fed out. They are simply stacked together one after another. I have read where a single pound of ground beef from one of these plants will contain the DNA from hundreds of different beef. At Nature's Gourmet Farm our beef maintains their roots from birth to harvest. Humane handling and maintaining sanitary conditions is our first priority when processing - NOT efficiency. As a small plant we only process about 7 head per month in our plant. Yes, I am sure DNA from each beef would be in a pack of hamburger meat. The BIG difference is all 7 head were born and raised together on our farm. The next best option is when our beef are processed by a local processor. Typically, our volume equals a days work for the plant so our cattle move through the plant together vs. being mixed with other animals.
So, as you read and understand the ingredients let me as, which product best aligns with your values? Which product provides your family the best nutritional value? Which product is healthier for your family when considering chronic illnesses?
Remember Covid? When all of the big processors shut down and grocery store shelves went bare. However, small direct-market farms and most of the small local processors continued to operate - serving their customers. The question is not if, but when will another Covid-type event happen. This alone justifies the need for thousands more small farms selling direct to their communities.
Nature's Gourmet Farm product value proposition is to create a community that evolves around one of the most intrinsically important things of the ages, and that’s the provision of sustenance. That's our passion - to raise healthy animals to provide nutrient dense protein and saturated fat that nourish families and strengthen immune systems.
Our Beef is always grass finished with NO grains. Additionally, our animals are free of mRNA, GMO's (chemicals), Antibiotics, and Hormones. We ethically raise them on diverse forage pastures that regenerates our soils and protects our ecosystem.
Let me encourage you to "Be The Change" our food system needs by "Voting With Your Fork" at every meal.
** Product Availability Update **
NOTE: Restocks are made about 6 PM on the dates indicated below!
Chicken - Next restock January 14th
Turkey - Restocked December 30 for legs, thighs, wings, and ground turkey
Eggs - Restock each Tuesday prior to your delivery date.
Beef - Restocked December 21st.
Pork – Restocked December 10th. Smoked Bacon, Hams, and Sausage December 28th
Lamb - Restocked September 29, 2025
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