At Mountain American Jerky we are, decidedly, carnivores. As a premium and exotic meats provider with a family history in the industry stretching back generations, we also consider ourselves experienced connoisseurs of meat quality. From this standpoint, we feel confident in saying that grass-fed beef is better when making the highest quality jerky for our customers.

Don’t believe us? We have three good reasons to forever end the debate between grass-fed beef and just “beef.”

Square Zero: What is Grass-fed Beef?

Don’t all cows eat grass? Well, yes, they do. This is why many get confused by the “grass-fed” label. Grass-fed is not a question of whether the cow has ever eaten grass, but how long they’ve been eating the green stuff during their life. Most U.S. cattle drink their mother’s milk and eat grass for about 7 to 9 months after birth. They are then sent to feedlots and “finished” on a diet of corn, high-carb grains, or soy before slaughter. “Grass-finished” cows eat nutrient-rich green grass until the very end.

Per the USDA definition of grass-fed beef, “‘Grass (Forage) Fed’ means that grass and forage shall be the feed source consumed for the lifetime of the ruminant animal, with the exception of milk consumed prior to weaning… Animals cannot be fed grain or grain byproducts and must have continuous access to pasture during the growing season.”

Reason #1: Grass-fed Beef is Better for People

Many studies have determined the health benefits for people who eat beef from cows that follow a natural diet. Grass is, after all, what cows have always historically eaten, until recent human intervention. According to one study by the University of Wisconsin using USDA nutrition counts, when grass-fed is compared to grain-fed beef, pound-for-pound, it has:

• Less calories
• Less fat
• Less saturated fat
• More protein
• More healthy fats (up to 4-5 times more omega-3 than regular meat)
• More vitamins (specifically Vitamin A and E)

At Mountain American Jerky, our grass-fed beef jerky also contains no fillers, binders, MSG, or preservatives. Our beef jerky also lends itself to dietary goals with its high-protein and nutrient-rich content. 

Reason # 2: Grass-fed, Grass-finished Beef is Better for Animals

To know how good grass-fed cows live, compare it to the conventional U.S. cow in a CAFO. A CAFO, which stands for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation, is an agricultural facility that can simultaneously raise thousands of cows. Also known as a “factory farm,” CAFOs have no open pasture. Cows do not move from their stalls and are fed on high-carbohydrate diets. Their waste is carried away by sewage pipes or stored in pits and must be regulated by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) due to the public health risk of toxic run-off. Some factory farms use hormones to increase growth and spray antibiotics on the cows’ feed. Antibiotics help the animals cope with a lowered immune system caused by their unnatural diet.

Now consider the life of the grass-fed, open-pasture cows that provide the meat for our grass-fed beef jerky. Sunlight, green pasture, exercise, and a natural diet sound like the ingredients for a much happier, and healthier cow. Our cows are never confined to a feedlot, given hormones, or antibiotics. 

Reason #3: Grass-fed Meat is Better for the Planet

Grass-fed, grass-finished cows are raised in a way that mimics the natural ecosystem. Large grazing areas are split into a series of paddocks where grass and other greens are present. As the herd forages in one paddock, it spreads its manure to fertilize the ground. When the supply of grass is lowered, the farmer moves the herd to a new paddock, letting the first paddock rest. By the time the cows return to the first enclosure, the grasses have regrown in the rich soil and are ready to provide fresh nutrients once again.

This method is also known as “regenerative farming” because it helps to regenerate the land, rather than leaving it barren and nutrient-stripped, as some other methods can. It also removes the need for complex waste handling systems; the manure is distributed and used just as Mother Nature originally intended, to nourish the soil, plants, and dependent insect and animal ecosystems.

Best of All? Superior Taste.

Coming back to our starting point. If you’re reading this, it’s likely you are a carnivore like us. A primary reason we like meat is to eat it. At Mountain American Jerky we only use 100% grass-fed, grass-finished beef for our Free Range Grass Fed Beef Jerky. Natural is better, and it tastes better too! 

On top of the inherent quality, we provide a host of delicious flavors like carne asada, garlic pepper, and sweet and spicy, which will get your taste buds revved and your salivary glands going. Whether you want to focus on your health, the humane treatment of animals, the environment, or you’re just plain hungry – we’ve got you covered! Try our free-range grass-fed jerky and taste the difference today.