Grass-fed is best

"Nice Weather," said the brown cow.

"Ah," said the white.

"Grass is very tasty.

Grass is alright."

At Sheepdrove we are grass farmers, working to the highest organic standards to ensure the greatest levels of animal welfare for our livestock and producing food that is not only of the best quality, but also healthier.

Research has shown that meat, eggs and dairy products from animals raised on pastures are better for your health. Compared with grain-fed animals, they offer more 'good' fats and fewer 'bad' fats as well as being richer in antioxidants.

Furthermore, they are unlikely to contain traces of growth hormones, antibiotics or other drugs used in intensive farming.

Some of the benefits of meat and dairy from grass-fed animals are:

* Lower in fat and calories

Research shows that lean beef actually lowers your LDL cholesterol levels. Because meat from grass-fed animals is lower in fat, it is also lower in calories. As an example a 6 ounce steak from a grass-fed cow can have 100 fewer calories than a 6 ounce steak from a grain-fed animal. In fact, even fattier cuts are lower in fat and calories than the meat from grain-fed cattle.

* Extra Omega-3

Omega-3s are known as ‘good’ fats as they play a vital role in every cell and system in your body. Meat from grass-fed animals has 2 to 4 times more omega-3 fatty acids than meat from grain fed animals. The reason for this is that omega-3s are formed in the chloroplasts of green leaves, meaning 60% of fatty acids in grass are omega-3s.

Of all the fats they are the most heart friendly. People with ample amounts of omega-3 in their diet are less likely to have high blood pressure and 50% less likely to suffer from a heart attack.

An additional benefit of omega-3s are that they may reduce your risk of cancer. Animal studies have shown that these essential fats slowed the growth of a wide array of cancers and also stopped them from spreading.

* The CLA bonus

Another good fat is Conjugated Linoleic Acid, and meat and dairy from grass-fed ruminants is the richest known source of it. Yo can find 3 to 5 times more CLA in ruminants raised on pasture alone than those which are fed on conventional diets.

* More Vitamin E

Meat from pastured cattle is 4 times higher in vitamin E than it is in feedlot cattle. In humans, vitamin E is linked to a lower risk of heart disease and cancer. This potent anti-oxidant may also have anti-aging properties.

These are just some of the benefits of eating meat from animals raised on grass.