Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I know this is a very specific question, but it's difficult to figure out!

I've heard the beef here is often grain-finished (depending on rainfall and the seasons), and this is a selling-point for many suppliers.

But what about lamb/goats? On the whole, is it likely they would be grassfed? I'm talking Woolworths/Coles/local butcher meat.

flag	asked Apr 12 2012 at 23:35 Medis 731●1●8

PrimalDanny · Answer 1 · 2012-04-13 00:45:44Z UTC

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They're not short on space. I can't say anything definitively, and it almost certainly depends in general on circumstance and season perhaps, but as a rule I don't think any country corrupts its livestock in quite the same way as the US so there's not much to worry about.

answered Apr 13 2012 at 0:45

PrimalDanny
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We definitely have the space, and lately so much rain! It tastes great, looks fresh, but I'm still not sure. – Medis Apr 13 2012 at 1:03

sam_acw · Answer 2 · 2012-04-13 06:27:29Z UTC

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Lamb doesn't respond well to intensive farming so is one of the meats that's messed about with least. I'd have thought there's a stronger chance of it being grass fed and approaching organic than any other standard meat.

answered Apr 13 2012 at 6:27

sam_acw
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Efaitch · Answer 3 · 2012-04-13 07:29:30Z UTC

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I'd echo what others have said that most lamb is left on pasture year round. I love this time of year in the UK with all the spring lambs in the fields!

A lot of lamb/sheep (and goats) graze on land that's unsuitable for agriculture or for cattle, so they're left to it.

answered Apr 13 2012 at 7:29

Efaitch
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Agreed, Spring is great. They just look so ... tasty! – PrimalDanny Apr 13 2012 at 10:17

desi · Answer 4 · 2012-04-13 02:17:27Z UTC

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By the time lambs are slaughtered they have fed on mothers milk predominantly.Same for baby goats.You can tell by the intestines,they're clean as a whistle.

answered Apr 13 2012 at 2:17

desi
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I don't know what size you like to butcher, but my goats are ruminating well before getting butchered. – Matt Apr 13 2012 at 11:31

peter · Answer 5 · 2012-04-13 10:50:38Z UTC

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Woolworths & Coles - will be grain finished.

Local butcher - ask. They are all going to be different. Any good butcher will be able to tell you. Go to the Sydney markets and ask, I can guarantee that you will find 100% grass fed no worries at all. If you were in Adelaide I could help you out.

PS - Suz - Paleo Oz - will be able to help you out, she is in Sydeny.

UPDATE - Sorry, I mis-read the question - Australian lamb is not usually grass fed at all (sorry, I just quickly read the question and thought you said beef). My answer stands for beef, but lamb you should be fine, even with Woolies and coles. My bad :)

edited Apr 13 2012 at 10:50

answered Apr 13 2012 at 2:40

peter
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What's the reason for having them grain finished? Do Ozzies prefer the grain-finished taste? Or is that becuz they're being exported? – Namby Pamby Apr 13 2012 at 3:39

I don't know, my local butcher puts up signs advertising 'grain finished beef!', like it is a good thing... I have asked the butchers though and they say the lamb is not grain fed at any time, which is nice... Perhaps it is for exporting like you suggest. This link suggests grain feeding increased when there were droughts a few years back. Hopefully with all the rain in recent years the reverse has occurred... honestmeat.com/honest_meat/2008/11/… – Michael Apr 13 2012 at 5:55

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Grain finishing is about money... It's about yield. It's similar in the UK. When I was looking up husbandry practices in the UK, I found that there's a document which shows what kind of yield a farmer will get by feeding different types of cereal to cattle (sorry don't have link any longer). – Efaitch Apr 13 2012 at 7:27

@namby pamby - both I think, and probably cheaper/convenience maybe. Restaurants here always have "90 Day Grain Finished" on their steaks, like that's a good thing. – peter Apr 13 2012 at 7:28

What is the likelihood that Australian lamb is pastured?

5 Answers