Small farms have been vanishing across America as competition from huge agricultural concerns makes it hard for the little guy to make a living. However, there are ways for savvy owners to make a respectable income. Running a grass fed beef farm is one proven way to get ahead.
To be successful, every entrepreneur needs to think outside the box that tradition built and to find a product that will rise above competitors. When small landowners found that competition from giant corporate farms was threatening their survival, they needed to find a way to change the way they did business. Some very smart people are farmers, and many of them are happy to share good ideas that have made them profitable.
Being more expensive than conventionally-raised meat has not frustrated the rise in popularity of this lean, free-range beef. Many consumers feel that factory farming has lowered the quality, taste, and nutritional content of food sold in conventional grocery stores. They are looking for more naturally-produced products and often prefer to buy locally. Farmers’ markets are springing up all across the country, and grass-fed meats are found at many of them.
Research has validated the belief that home-grown produce and pastured meats are healthier than the usual mass-market fare. Chemical residues in picked-when-green produce and hormones and antibiotics in animals destined for human consumption concern many people. Especially when truck farms, orchards, and meat producers use few or no chemicals to grow and protect their crops and animals, the food is fresh, nutrient-rich, and flavorful.
Research has shown that cattle raised on lush pasture and never fed grain actually have essential fatty acids in their meat that feedlot steers do not have. One such nutrient, which is known by the initials CLA, helps the human body break down saturated fats found in red meat. Today, with the concerns over genetically-modified grains that are used for animal feed, people are even more interested in meat raised on pasture.
A savvy farmer can save money by raising cattle on grass and then creating and supplying a market for his output. The elimination of the costly, labor and time-intensive, and hazardous-to-your-health raising of grain (farming is among the least healthy ways to make a living) means a larger profit margin. Improving pasture and controlling grazing makes the land richer year by year, ensuring future success.
As well as saving money on production and vet care (feedlots are known to be unhealthy for the cattle that are crowded into them), a farmer raising cattle on pasture has a product that the huge producers cannot match. The fact that it takes more land and more time to raise cattle this way discourages factory-farm managers. By raising consumer awareness of the health and environmental benefits of grass-fed meat (pastured poultry is also popular), farmers can establish a secure niche in the local market.
Of course, some grass fed beef farms have gone national. One Colorado family markets its meat to several national grocery chains. Many gourmet restaurants now feature this premium meat on the menu. And another thing to consider: if you have a farmer like this in your area, you might be able to buy direct, taking the meat from the farm straight to your freezer.
Read more about Profit With A Grass Fed Beef Farm visiting our website.
Food & Beverage, beverages, cooking, drinks, eating, food, gourmet
