Is Organic Meat Better Or Is It More Important Where Beef Is Sourced From? - Meat N' Bone

Is Organic Meat Better Or Is It More Important Where Beef Is Sourced From?

· Updated Posted by Meat N' Bone

When you read the word "organic beef," you tend to think of happy cows living in open environments on green farms which graze freely until they die of happiness. At least, that's what I had initially thought. People buy organic because they expect higher standards. Unfortunately, organically raised animals can still live miserable lives. If you are concerned about animal welfare (as you should be), buy from farms that focus on quality and raise their animals with love; not farms focused on a label that allows them to sell their product at a premium.

Organic Labels Can Be Confusing

The meat world is confusing. Everywhere you look, the industry has made things difficult for the consumer. Things that could be simple, such as beef labeling, are very complex and competition has driven brands to make crazy and meaningless claims to attempt to differentiate from one another. Probably the most confusing and craziest of all trends is "organic" (and it is the craziest because the science behind it is murky at best).

At Meat N' Bone we are all about quality. We work with extremely premium meats which come from small farmers who adhere to not using added hormones, feed their animals extremely high quality feed and are humane (animals have space to graze and live in open environments). We believe that humane practices, stress free environments make better food. Same applies to antibiotics, any use of antibiotics to enhance growth is not good.

USDA Organic Label

Many of the practices required to be certified organic are simply unsustainable and add an additional premium for the product which we do not believe to be worth it if you are sourcing your beef properly. That said, in order for the USDA to certify a product as 'organic', the requirements are very meticulous and in many ways unnecessary. Getting organic certification is expensive and for farmers operating small farms, the certification may not be worthwhile.

What Makes Beef Organic (And Why It's Not Always Better)

1. Animals must be fed organic feed

The feed cannot contain animal by-products, antibiotics or genetically engineered grains. It also cannot be grown using persistent pesticides or chemical fertilizers. On paper, this sounds great but in reality, this is expensive and the science has not proven there is any benefit to organic feed. The land produces much lower yields of food and requires massive consumption of water. It works in some communities, but not everywhere. Focus on farms that feed their cattle a high quality diet. Whether it is "organic feed" or not is secondary.

    2. No use of antibiotics

    There are TWO reasons you use antibiotics. The first is to treat a sick animal and the second is to speed up growth. We work with farms who abstain from using antibiotics, but we believe treating a sick cow is HUMANE. Cows who get the flu, may take antibiotics. They will be monitored and farmers will make sure that antibiotics are fully flushed from their system before slaughter. Beef is tested to make sure there is absolutely no remaining trace of the medicine. Our farmers love their cows, and you do not let a cow die just because you want to label it "antibiotic free". Organic, does not mean cruelty-free.

      3. No added hormones

      The concern with conventional beef is the risk that cows may be given growth hormones (BGH, rBGH, rBST) to increase milk production in dairy cows or speed up and increase the size of cows that will go to slaughter for beef. This is a fair concern, but most high quality cattle are not given growth hormones. We sell Certified Angus Beef and above, which means the hot carcass weight cannot exceed more than 1,050 pounds. Moreover, added-hormones are unnecessary and expensive.

        4. Cattle must be able to graze in an organic pasture for at least 120 days during grazing season

        Organic beef does not mean not grass fed. The USDA actually does not regulate the grass fed industry so "grass fed" means whatever the producer wants it to mean. Your "organic cow" probably spent 8 months out of the year trapped in a feedlot eating "organic" hay and alfalfa and your "grass fed" beef could have been fed Doritos and sold to you as "grass fed." This is why you should focus on sourcing and NOT on labels.

          There is no science behind "organic" beef. If you believe organic beef has more healthful nutrients than conventional food, you are just wasting money. By now, this is a well known fact. Eat high quality food and a balanced diet. Don't buy quantity, buy quality and support the small farmer who LOVES what they do. Yes, it will be a couple bucks more expensive than buying mass produced product, but it will be of MUCH better quality.

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          About Is Organic Meat Better Or Is It More Important Where Beef Is Sourced From?

          There's so much confusion around the organic label on beef products. Let's debunk some myths & clarify what the standards actually mean for you.

          Questions

          Is organic beef always better for you?

          No, the article states there is no scientific evidence that organic beef is more nutritious than conventionally raised beef, and the benefits of organic feed are unproven.

          What does the organic label actually guarantee?

          Organic certification requires specific feed, no added hormones, and limited antibiotic use, but does not always ensure better animal welfare or open grazing for most of the year.

          Is antibiotic-free beef more humane?

          Not necessarily; the author argues that treating sick animals with antibiotics (and ensuring no residue remains before slaughter) is more humane than letting them suffer for the sake of a label.

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          Does organic mean grass-fed?

          No, organic beef is not always grass-fed, and the USDA does not regulate the term "grass-fed"—so sourcing and transparency matter more than labels.

          What should consumers look for when buying beef?

          Meat N' Bone recommends buying from farms that prioritize animal welfare, quality feed, and transparency, rather than focusing solely on organic certification.

          Why is organic certification expensive?

          Getting organic certification is expensive and for farmers operating small farms, the certification may not be worthwhile due to meticulous and sometimes unnecessary USDA requirements.

          What are the four main requirements for organic beef certification?

          Animals must be fed organic feed, no use of antibiotics for growth, no added hormones, and cattle must be able to graze in an organic pasture for at least 120 days during grazing season.

          Does Meat N' Bone sell organic beef?

          Meat N' Bone focuses on quality sourcing from small farmers who prioritize animal welfare, high-quality feed, and responsible antibiotic use rather than pursuing organic certification labels.

          What is Meat N' Bone's approach to beef sourcing?

          Meat N' Bone works with extremely premium meats from small farmers who adhere to not using added hormones, feed their animals extremely high quality feed, and maintain humane practices with animals having space to graze and live in open environments.

          Is there a difference between grass-fed and organic beef?

          Yes, organic beef does not necessarily mean grass-fed. The USDA does not regulate the grass-fed industry, so "grass-fed" can mean whatever the producer wants it to mean, while organic has specific USDA requirements.