Corn Fed Beef vs Conventional Grain Fed Beef - PaleoHacks.com

Corn Fed Beef vs Conventional Grain Fed Beef

2011-06-27T19:21:40Z

Most of the beef I eat is grass fed for a host of reasons. But when it comes to corn fed beef, I have often wondered if it's any better/worse than the beef of conventionally fed cows that get all sorts of other grains in their diet.

Corn fed beef is usually much more pink in color, and tastes a little sweeter. It's very popular with the Irish for some reason. Also, it is my understanding that Pastrami is often made from seasoned corn fed beef.

I know this might sound like the old cliche... which is worse? getting stabbed in the eye with an ice pick or having your left leg severed at the thighbone with a saw blade (i.e. the lesser of 2 evilz) but that's not really what I'm after with this question.

Is there anything notable about corned beef specifically that is better/worse than standard grain fed beef?

Is eating a couple slices of otherwise qualifying pastrami meat any different than eating a couple slices of non grass fed roast beef?

Answer by BAMBAM for Corn Fed Beef vs Conventional Grain Fed Beef

2011-06-27T19:25:55Z

Corn goes undigested because it is a grain and therefore not in sync with the cow's biology. It breeds higher populations of the lethal strands of ecoli bacteria in the cow's colon.

I think breeding ecoli should be made illegal.

If some Ma and Pa shop were breeding a lethal virus or bacteria, it could be used for biological warfare and their operation would get shut down faster than you can say "terrorist".

Answer by John J. Collins for Corn Fed Beef vs Conventional Grain Fed Beef

2011-06-27T20:31:36Z

To clarify. It seems you may be confusing 'corned beef' with 'corn-fed beef? If so, just to be clear: The term 'corned beef' has NOTHING to do with the food-grain known as corn. The term 'corned-beef' is an old term and the 'corn' that the term refers to is actually the salt or "corns of salt" or "grains of salt" that the meat is treated with. BTW, although it is not common (yet) both corned-beef and pastrami can be prepared/made from grass-fed beef. Cheers.

Answer by Omnomnivore for Corn Fed Beef vs Conventional Grain Fed Beef

2011-06-27T22:25:59Z

I'm also curious about this (since the corn-fed vs corned beef nomenclature has been resolved). "Ontario corn fed beef" is touted as being superior to "regular" beef in our grocery stores.
Is it, in terms of paleo nutrition?

Answer by Cassie for Corn Fed Beef vs Conventional Grain Fed Beef

2012-11-10T01:48:31Z

I know one thing about the difference between eating grass fed animals to eating grain fed animals - my reaction to the grain fed meat is not good.

I get the same reactions when I eat grain fed beef and chicken as if I had eaten gluten, which is a painful back and stomach during the ensuing night.

Grass fed meats seems to be a lot tougher (not tender) here in Australia but it's better than eating meat that is unnaturally raised using grains to feed the animal.

If the bacteria found in grain fed animals faeces is really different (studies can confirm this) to those animals that eat grass then what does that say? It's like us when we eat a whole lot of carbs. Unbeneficial bacteria proliferate because of the amount of food they are getting. That's why so many of todays diseases are stemming coming from the gut.

So how can an animals be healthy with this huge change of diet? Crazy to think they could be really knowing what we know now.

Answer by Terese for Corn Fed Beef vs Conventional Grain Fed Beef

2013-02-07T21:33:07Z

This article spells it out quite nicely, and here is a quote:

"Essentially, when a cow is eating grains instead of grass, its body is failing. It may be piling on the pounds but its stores of substances vital to life and well being are being used up at a rate that neither this unnatural food or artificial foods can even hope to counter balance."