Why Isn’t All Pasture-Raised Meat Also 100% Grass Fed?

Why isn’t all pasture-raised meat also 100% grass fed? It’s all about digestive systems. Let me explain…

There are ruminants (like cattle and sheep), and non-ruminants (like chickens and pigs). Non-ruminants cannot survive on grass alone, which is why our chickens’ diet includes non-gmo feed.

Ruminants have a uniquely designed 4-chamber stomach.

• The grass that they chew is passed on to chamber 1 to begin the process of “rumination” - where the tougher plant matter is broken down and fermented.

• Then in chamber 2, the broken down particles are sorted and either sent to chamber 3, or back to chamber 1 for further rumination (if the particles are still too big).

• Chamber 3 absorbs the water and nutrients, and passes the rest onto chamber 4.

• Chamber 4 runs similar to a human’s digestive system, by using acid and enzymes to break down proteins.

Non-Ruminants are like us.

They just have the one stomach chamber that brakes down protein and some carbs. Because they lack the rumination chamber that can ferment plant matter, they cannot absorb 100% of their needed nutrients from just grass.

Therefore, we supplement our chickens with a non-gmo feed that includes all the nutrients and minerals they need to grow healthily, and ensure that it is derived from all natural, locally sourced ingredients.