To understand what’s in SteakBurger Prime Ground Steak you must first understand what’s in other ground beef.
One critical distinction is that all beef sold in stores comes from a feedlot. The other distinction is that feedlot cattle are fed grain and corn (and other stuff).
Feedlot Corn-Fed vs. Pasture Grass-fed
The Corn-Fed Myth. Corn-fed beef is sometimes touted as “superior” beef. In my opinion, feedlots use corn not because it enhances the taste of beef, or makes it more healthy. In fact, studies show that grass-fed beef improves nutrient value, and pasture lifestyle promotes happier, healthier cattle which in turn enhances taste. So why do feedlots use corn?
Simple, because it’s more cost-effective. Corn by-products are cheaper to buy than natural grasses such as alfalfa, or hay and corn fed cattle gain weight quicker and reach processing age sooner thereby decreasing the cost in feed. I’m sure this won’t surprise you, but it all comes down to money.
So why do feedlots tout corn-fed as better tasting? Well what else can they say and still hope to sell their product? Corn fed sounds healthy. In fact, it appears to be quite the opposite. Studies confirm that corn fed cattle have more digestive ailments and diseases than grass fed cattle. The mortality rate is higher also.
If you’ve never been to a feedlot let me describe it to you (click here to see a picture). Depending on which way the wind blows you can smell a feedlot 10 miles before you even get there. Upon arriving, as far as you can see there are thousands of cattle crowded in pens. Since they cannot graze they spend their day eating corn and restlessly fighting for space. Since there are no grasses or plants of any kind, the air is thick with the dust dried manure they are standing in. This can’t be a good thing.
SteakBurger cattle (click here to see our ranch) spend every day of their life grazing on the thick lush prairie grasses that flourish on our ranch in North Texas. It may take our steers a little longer to produce but they live happier, healthier lives, and in our opinion, healthier, tastier meat without the bad fats and without the harmful antibiotics and growth hormones.
Store-Bought Ground Beef
Remember two things: First, virtually all beef purchased in retail stores comes from cattle that are corn/grain-fed on feedlots. And second, usually the least desirable beef ends up becoming ground meat. An article in the Wall Street Journal on January 27, 2004 with the Headline: “U.S. to Give Up on Mad-Cow Search”, that was primarily the failure of the USDA to locate the herd mates of the one infected dairy cow that was found to be BSE positive on Dec. 24, 2003. They said it better than I can:
“… the USDA’s mad-cow investigation appears to be running out of steam. Ron De Haven, USDA’s chief veterinarian, yesterday said, it is likely that several of the dairy cattle that grew up with the infected Holstein cow and accompanied it from Canada two years ago have probably already been culled because of their relatively advanced age. The fate of most old dairy cows is to be turned into hamburger…“
Well. there you have it.
SteakBurger prime grass fed steak comes from animals grazed entirely on natural grass until proper weight. They are about 2 years old at the time of processing. They are not old culled dairy cattle.
What’s Not In SteakBurger Beef Patties
Next time you buy patties for your next barbecue, read the list of ingredients. You should find only one ingredient: 100% Beef, however, what you find may surprise you – as it did us. Most patty manufacturers can have as much as 30% solution (water, spices, etc.). It can also have fillers such as whey, fat, and beef byproduct.
SteakBurger is 100% grass-fed prime beef with no additives, preservatives, or fillers.
So it includes the steaks plus the ADDED benefit of being healthy pasture-raised beef.