The health benefits alone are enough to sell grass fed beef, but there are many environmental benefits as well.  Most producers of grass fed beef use a rotational grazing system.  This means that the cattle herd is moved from one pasture to the next on a schedule so that the cows get plenty of good grass to eat, and the pastures are never over or under grazed.  Rangeland can actually be drastically improved through this method.  Better grass, less erosion, and fewer weeds can result.

Pesticides and herbicides are used rarely if ever on most grass fed beef farms.  The pastures are kept healthy through good management and grazing rather than with chemicals.

We have a watering system that enables us to water the cows with clean, fresh water in all their pastures and keep them out of the streams and ponds.  This results in healthier riparian areas — better water quality, less erosion on banks, etc.  It also results in healthier cows because they are not having to drink contaminated water.

Lastly, increasing attention is being given to the role conventional beef production plays in emitting methane, a potent greenhouse gas. While the waste from conventionally-raised cattle piles up in CAFO’s (Confined Animal Feeding Operations), our cows distribute their waste throughout our pastures, helping to fertilize their food source.  New research also shows that cows emit less methane through belching when given grasses to eat, rather than grain.

We are transitioning our cattle herd from Black Angus to New Zealand Red Devon, a heritage breed dating back to the British Devons and exclusively grass-fed for 100 years in Wananui, New Zealand.  With their short wide frame, Red Devons are desirable for our rotational grazing system, gaining weight entirely on grass. Their beautiful red color makes them more suitable for the North Carolina heat.

For more information, see the Rotokawa Cattle Company