Organic Beef

By definition, organic beef in the UK is fed on a diet predominantly made up of grass. However this won't necessarily make it 100% grass fed, this is not an organic standard. We supplement our organic beef’s diets when grass alone isn’t up to doing the job. As part of our regular crop rotation, we plant some cereals, such as barley, alongside nutritious legumes like peas. These can be grown together in the same field and harvested as a ‘whole crop’. That means the stalk and seed are cut and stored together, so there’s no by-product and no waste. It also means the cattle get a balanced meal with plenty of roughage.

When choosing meat to purchase, it is worth carrying out some research. There are a number of studies that suggest organic meat is a healthier option – higher in Omega 3, Amino Acids and Healthy Fats. There are also several other reasons why choosing organic meat is a good idea. They range from the contribution of organic farming to climate change, animal welfare and the use of pesticides and medicines used in the farming of conventional animals having a detrimental effect on our health.

Organic beef is made of a number of butchered cuts that come from a cow reared in an organic certified system. There are several organic bodies in the UK who can offer this accreditation such as the Soil Association & Organic Farmers and Growers. The standards set by these bodies will affect the husbandry, birth, life, slaughter and processing of an organic beef animal. Every standard must be met and is audited at least annually to ensure this is the case. The Organic Butchery is certified organic by the Soil Association.

Grass fed beef can contain up to four times more Vitamin E, a valuable anti-oxidant, than conventional beef. Vitamin E has a vital role repairing cell damage, protecting our health against the effects of ageing and chronic inflammation. Grass fed organic beef is generally lower in saturated fat than conventional beef and therefore is a good meat choice, once weekly, to ensure you can still benefit from its valuable nutrients like high quality protein, iron and Vitamin B12. There are also several other reasons why choosing organic beef is a good idea. Grass fed beef are vital for natural ecosystems to thrive, no pesticides and fertilisers on the land and high animal welfare in organic systems (medicines are only used when absolutely necessary, unlike in the farming of conventional beef animals having a detrimental effect on our health).