Cows are fed grains by farmers to promote rapid weight gain before they sell
them. It also increases the fat content of the beef from 55 to 20% or so,
and makes it allegedly more palatable and desired by consumers. Now that fat
phobia is rampant in the West, this could be used to help market grass fed
meat.

Cows are digastric (ruminant). Grains have the same effect on pigs
(monogastric) and Humans (monogastric).

Ben Balzer

----- Original Message -----
From: Ilya <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, 22 September 1999 11:46 PM
Subject: Re: [P-F] Intro/Neanderthin vs. Paleofoods/Raw Meat


> Whitson wrote:
> >
> > Cows can't digest grains?
> As far as I know they can. Whether this affects the meat is what some
people on this
> list are wondering. I personally can't tell the difference between grass
fed and
> grain fed, however, other people claim that they can. Since cows have
evolved to
> get only fairly small amounts of grains in their diet (mostly cellulose)
one could
> argue that predominantly grain based diets aren't good for them and might
affect
> the quality of the meat. Some testing has shown that meat from wild
animals has
> more essential fatty acids, less fat, etc. This would indicate that the
commercial
> feed produces meat of lower quality. How important that is is for you to
decide.
>
> > What does grain have to do with eating beef raw?  Should I opt for
> > antibiotic injected/hormone injected grass-fed cows?  My options are the
supermarkets or Whole
> > Foods for meat that is antibiotic/hormone free.  (I can barely afford
it).
> Some meat is both grass-fed and antibiotic/hormone free. Example - New
Zealand
> lamb, which is sold in Bread and Circus and is not that expensive
(boneless
> leg of lamb is $6.99/lb)
>
> Ilya
>
> PS Cows are, strictly speaking, carnivores (or at least omnivores). They
> themselves don't digest grass - bacteria in their guts does. The cows
> then digest the bacteria.