Not that we like to gloat, but….

Grassfed beef from two Animal Welfare Approved farmers has gone head-to-head with conventional beef in separate taste tests. The results are in and, well, to be modest, SMACKDOWN!

This past summer, AWA supporter Chef Bill Telepan issued a challenge to Mark and Dr. Patricia Whisnant of American Grass Fed Beef—bring him some grassfed beef that he deemed worthy of using in his famous burger and he would make the switch from the beef his customers had come to love. And so, on a muggy New York City afternoon, a small crowd gathered to see the gloves come off as 100% grassfed took on heavyweight conventional grain-fed. In a stunning upset, Chef Bill declared the upstart 100% grassfed beef the winner, bestowing the crown of onion rings and French fries that top the famous Telepan burger on the Whisnant’s American Grass Fed Beef.

Westland/Hallmark, of the famous “downer cow” footage, has nothing on this one.

I got an email a few days ago with a link to footage taken at a Vermont slaughter plant. I often receive videos depicting horrific animal treatment, but this one stood out. The footage I was sent showed veal calves—only days old—unable to walk or stand on their own, repeatedly kicked, slapped and shocked.

Once again, we have sickening proof that there are people who just don’t get it. In a civilized society we have to do things right. The USDA, despite the industry’s best efforts, does have rules that cover some parts of a slaughter plant operation. Slaughter plants that operate like this can’t hide anymore. People are no longer satisfied with being spoon-fed lies about production practices that are “in our best interests”; the consumer is educated, interested and is paying attention.

Farmers Charles and Mary Louise Shaffer raise Kiko and Boer goats on Generation Farm in Walnut Grove, North Carolina.

Luis and Myriam Frick raise Animal Welfare Approved beef cattle on Mustang Creek Farm in Bogata, TX. Their grassfed beef are raised on pastures and never given any supplements which are unnatural to ruminant animals. Luis and Myriam believe in the environmental, animal, and human health benefits of grassfed beef. Grassfed beef is higher in many essential nutrients- such as Omega-3 fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), antioxidants, and vitamin E- which contribute to overall human health benefits; allows the cow to engage in normal ruminant behavior; and requires far fewer high energy, fossil fuel dependent inputs that contribute to climate change and land degradation.

Joel Mendenhall of Mendenhall Cattle Company raises Animal Welfare Approved beef cattle on the oak-lined meadows of Palomar Mountain in southern California. As Joel explains, “The choice to eat grassfed beef is a choice to improve the welfare of the animals; decrease air, land and water pollution; aid family ranchers in their quest to provide a better product; and feed your family a superior, delicious and more nutritious food.”

A recent newspaper article brought home once again the extraordinary reality of industrialized food production – and lengths that some in the US food and farming industry will go to in the pursuit of “efficiency.”

This time, it was an article in the LA Times about the currently legal practice of feeding US cattle so-called “poultry litter.” An unlikely sounding cattle feed, poultry litter is actually made up of industrial chicken feces, spilled chicken feed, feathers and other poultry waste collected from the floors of factory farms across the US. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – which is responsible for protecting public health and is at the center of this current situation for continuing to permit poultry litter as a feedstuff – estimates that US farmers currently feed between one and two million tons of poultry litter to their cattle each year.

Simply Grazin’ Organic Farm (in New Jersey and Virginia) is a family owned and operated farm that believes in allowing animals to do exactly what God intended them to do—graze peacefully and grow naturally—with minimal interference from the farmers. The farm is run by Mark, Lynne, Dylan, Taylor & Stacie Faille. In addition, they have numerous family members, including uncles, cousins, nephews, & nieces that lend a helping hand on a daily and seasonal basis. They have been farming for approximately 12 years and were committed to grass-based, organic farming before it was “in.”

As Program Director for Animal Welfare Approved, a free third-party food label that certifies family farms raising their animals outdoors using high-welfare practices, I generally sit out ballot box battles over farm animal welfare. Our efforts at Animal Welfare Approved focus on supporting sustainable family farms, high-welfare production and consumer education.

So the fact that I’m going to ask Ohioans to vote against Issue 2 this coming Tuesday will seem unusual to those who know me and my organization. But the case is clear. Our farmers are telling me that Issue 2 is not what it seems and attention should be paid.

The basic problem with Issue 2 is summed up by Animal Welfare Approved farmer Dennis Adams of Cota Farms in Cardington. He says: “Issue 2 is not about farm animals, it’s about control. The measure is a fake, a sham.”