FOOD RAISED THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY
At Utah Natural Meat our animals are raised the old-fashioned way, which basically means this:
NATURAL. PASTURED. NON-GMO. NO CORN. NO SOY. FREE RANGE. HUMANE. OUTDOORS. and most importantly, GRASS.
Not long ago most animals, especially cattle, were only raised on grass. That all changed in the 1950s when feedlots and grain-fed diets became increasingly popular and continued to the point that now almost all meat is produced in feedlots and factory farms. The problem? Confined spaces. Poor diet. Added growth hormones. Overcrowding. Sick animals. Antibiotic overuse. Unhealthy meat. And that leads to unhealthy people.
"Animals raised in factory farms are given diets designed to boost their productivity and lower costs. The main ingredients are genetically modified grain and soy that are kept at artificially low prices by government subsidies. To further cut costs, the feed may also contain “by-product feedstuff” such as municipal garbage, stale pastry, chicken feathers, and candy."
Jo Robinson - eatwild.com
WE DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY!
All of our animals eat a diet which consists of:
1. SPROUTS: We currently have three hydroponic greenhouses we use to sprout a mix of barley, oats, sunflower and wheat. We then harvest these "biscuits", also known as fodder, and feed them to the animals, giving them fresh greens every day, including the snowy winter months in Utah. Not only is the nutritional benefit awesome for the animals, but this method uses less water and energy and produces no waste as the entire sprout is consumed.
2. PASTURE GRASS: We do have some fields where we rotate animals. None of our fields are ever sprayed with chemical fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides.
3. ALFALFA: During the summer months you will often find us in the hay fields; cutting, raking, baling and hauling hay. We use this non-GMO alfalfa hay to supplement our animals' feed during the winter, and just like our pastures, we never spray our hay fields with any chemicals.
Our single-stomach animals, such as pigs and poultry, do eat some grains in addition to their greens. They feast on our custom corn & soy free feed mix. They also enjoy our raw milk on occasion, and our pigs often get some pastured eggs (the cracked or stained ones we are unable to sell).
We also never administer antibiotics or added growth hormones to any of our animals. We raise them outdoors where they get fresh air, sunshine and room to roam. They are treated humanely and with respect.
When you purchase grass-fed meat you are helping the environment and supporting your local farmer. The large, commercialized feedlots and processing facilities from which the majority of meat comes from contribute to our ever-growing problem of air, water and land pollution. By raising the animals on grass this problem disappears. You also support small family farms and help us sustain this way of life so we may pass it on to future generations.
Do you know where your meat comes from? Do you know who your farmer is? NOW YOU DO!
Visit our Farm Market page for information on separate cuts, or our ordering page for details on buying in bulk.