Grain Fed Rant

[jnntefend]

I dont care if the beef is grain-fed or grass-fed but like the OP i get tired of companies advertising in huge lettering something that is not untrue but will trick folks into thinking they are getting something better for themselves. I saw some microwave popcorn and on the bag it says "wholegrain" now i dont know about anyone else but just how do you get non-whole grain pop-corn? Popcorn is corn that grows on a cob just like regular corn only it is much smaller and more rounded but it is all wholegrain. This was put on the box just so that folks not paying attention would buy it thinking they were getting something more healthy! Makes me angry!

LOL. Really? Whole grain popcorn? I gotta go buy me some of that

 

[OldGuy43]

All this talk about feedlots like they're a new concept. The first one was designed and built in 1876 on the south side of Chicago. Feedlots (Yes, that's one word.) are not limited to beef cattle, but also swine, horses, sheep, turkeys, chickens and ducks.

Having grown up in Illinois I remember feedlots.The worst from a human standpoint, and let's not forget that's what this is all about, is the hog lot. You can smell one of those 4 miles upwind on a cloudy day.

It is a fact that we have overpopulated the planet. Unless you want to take the Soylent Green (It's a movie.) approach they are a necessary evil.

Now, do you suppose we could get back to the original topic, Madison Avenue hype?

 

[chickened]

When my grandmother was a child her family would drive from portland up the columbia river during the early 1900's to celilo falls where the indians would net fish. She said that you could smell the dead rotting fish guts long before you got there. Not really a feedlot but close.

 

[OldGuy43]

Okay, getting back to stating the obvious as a "new & improved" product; Once, when looking at a new car I had one of those irritating salesmen who just keeps blathering on and on. I decided to have a little fun with him when he started reading off the list of "options":

• "It has a Super Whizzbang V8." "What? It has a MOTOR. Amazing! What won't they think up next?"
• "It has power disk brakes." "It has BRAKES? That's so I can stop it, right? What a GREAT idea."
• "It has power steering." "And I can steer it myself? Well, that will be convenient, won't it?"
• "Aluminum wheels." "Wheels? It has wheels? That will make it roll better, huh?"
• "Corinthian Leather seats." "So we get to sit when we ride in it? That'll be nice."
• "Power Windows." "It has windows and they open AND close? That'll be useful on a hot day, don't ya think?"

He did finally get the idea and shut up. Yes, the above exchange really did take place. I wish I could take full credit for the idea, but my inspiration came from a movie, The Yellow Rolls Royce. Not a great movie, but the opening scenes have always stuck with me.

First we see the Rolls on the transporter being moved to the dealership through the streets of London. Next, it's sitting on the showroom floor and "His Lordship" is looking it over. He gets into the passenger compartment, (it's a 1930 limo) looks at the decanter and makes a face, squirms about on the seat a bit. It's obvious that he has already decided to buy, once a few minor annoyances are corrected.

At this point a young assistant salesman shows up and Lord whatever starts to list the things than must be corrected before the car will be acceptable as a gift for "Her Ladyship." The young man, not realizing the sale is made starts talking about the "marvelous new 6 cylinder motor." His lordship is obviously not interested, but the young man persists, even going so far as to offer to show it to him. The Lords patience is finally stretched to the limit leading to this exchange:

Quote:

I've always loved that bit of British understatement.

 

[cassie]

Good point on the grass-fed label. I had never thought of it that way before

Actually, most beef is pasture raised. Beef steers spend a relatively short period of time being fattened and finished in the feedlot. They are born and spend most of their life on pasture. So the term pasture raised doesn't tell you much.

 

[chickened]

Since pasture is cheaper than grain why does pasture raised beef always cost more? Most likely because it is a marketing ploy for a small farmer to get s few more dollars since they cannot compete with the big farms Do a blind taste test on both and see where the consumer stands. We raise our own animals in a feed lot environment and I assure you it is very safe and healthy. It only makes sense to give your animals the best feed and we do it for many reasons but to be cheap is not one of them I can buy it much cheaper but have no idea what it has eaten and that does effect taste

 

[chickened]

I will say when we raise a beef it gets alfalfa hay and about 25 lbs of grain a day up to slaughter. About the last three months.

 

[SD Bird Lady]

Okay, getting back to stating the obvious as a "new & improved" product; Once, when looking at a new car I had one of those irritating salesmen who just keeps blathering on and on. I decided to have a little fun with him when he started reading off the list of "options":

• "It has a Super Whizzbang V8." "What? It has a MOTOR. Amazing! What won't they think up next?"
• coulda been a V6 or V10 or a 7.3 L diesel details are important
• "It has power disk brakes." "It has BRAKES? That's so I can stop it, right? What a GREAT idea."
• could have been drum brakes...if they weren't power than you would have no ABS so that is important
• "It has power steering." "And I can steer it myself? Well, that will be convenient, won't it?"
• Ever driven w/o power steering it takes some serious biceps
• "Aluminum wheels." "Wheels? It has wheels? That will make it roll better, huh?"
• They are lighter, look nice, and you never loose a hub cap after hitting a pot hole
• "Corinthian Leather seats." "So we get to sit when we ride in it? That'll be nice."

Could've been cloth, or goat , cow, or buffalo leather

• "Power Windows." "It has windows and they open AND close? That'll be useful on a hot day, don't ya think?"

They still make them manual and I guess sense you irritated the salesman before he got to A/C you may need those windows.

He did finally get the idea and shut up. Yes, the above exchange really did take place. I wish I could take full credit for the idea, but my inspiration came from a movie, The Yellow Rolls Royce. Not a great movie, but the opening scenes have always stuck with me.

First we see the Rolls on the transporter being moved to the dealership through the streets of London. Next, it's sitting on the showroom floor and "His Lordship" is looking it over. He gets into the passenger compartment, (it's a 1930 limo) looks at the decanter and makes a face, squirms about on the seat a bit. It's obvious that he has already decided to buy, once a few minor annoyances are corrected.

At this point a young assistant salesman shows up and Lord whatever starts to list the things than must be corrected before the car will be acceptable as a gift for "Her Ladyship." The young man, not realizing the sale is made starts talking about the "marvelous new 6 cylinder motor." His lordship is obviously not interested, but the young man persists, even going so far as to offer to show it to him. The Lords patience is finally stretched to the limit leading to this exchange:



I've always loved that bit of British understatement.

As a consumer it is our responsibility to do the research if we are so inclined. Yes they use those words to attract people. So when you say "home raised" chicken but you keep it in a coop and feed it rations for 8 weeks until it is killed it is possibly more humane but will taste the same as one that was cage raised. Same with farm fresh eggs. If they aren't free ranging or on grass they are just raised close to home. We get "home grown" beef but it is finished in a feedlot just the same. It is simply a smaller family owned lot they are then killed with a bolt just like in a slaughter plant but at the local butcher. You have to know what things mean and do your reasearch if you care. Since it sounds like you do, educate your children and they will pass it on. Knowledge is Power!!

 

[jnntefend]

All this talk about feedlots like they're a new concept. The first one was designed and built in 1876 on the south side of Chicago. Feedlots (Yes, that's one word.) are not limited to beef cattle, but also swine, horses, sheep, turkeys, chickens and ducks.

Having grown up in Illinois I remember feedlots.The worst from a human standpoint, and let's not forget that's what this is all about, is the hog lot. You can smell one of those 4 miles upwind on a cloudy day.

It is a fact that we have overpopulated the planet. Unless you want to take the Soylent Green (It's a movie.) approach they are a necessary evil.

Now, do you suppose we could get back to the original topic, Madison Avenue hype?

LOL. Good idea.

I once saw a "No Trans Fats" label on a box of applesauce...

 

[jnntefend]

I will say when we raise a beef it gets alfalfa hay and about 25 lbs of grain a day up to slaughter. About the last three months.

I would say that there is a difference between what you do, as a cattleman, with grain and hay you know, than what feedlots do. A responsibly raised, grain-finished steer can be every bit as special and delicious and worth advertising as a grass-finished steer. But the stuff these restaurants are touting has seen none of the sort of care and good management that you seem to be giving your animals. And is absolutely no better than the 5 dollar a pound junk you can buy on the sale rack of your local grocery store. Many of them don't even dry age their beef.

And, on your earlier post, I think the reason responsibly managed beef costs so darn much more is a combination of the fact that it is raised in small batches, and slightly, because, as I am sure you are aware, a cow who spends it's life in natural circumstances takes a bit longer to reach kill weight, and is a bit lighter at kill weight. You see the same thing happen with chickens, The Cornish Crosses in the industrial chicken system take only 7 or so weeks to reach kill weight, while our own Cornish Crosses would take at least nine weeks, and other breeds even longer. It means the industrial system can sell their birds for a bit cheaper than you could afford to if you made your living from chickens.