Natural Grass-Fed Beef
Shoemaker Ranch, Inc.
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Shoemaker Ranch, Inc. , a division of Honeyacre Enterprises Ltd., is a family
operation located in Morgan County, Colorado It is our pleasure to produce
Honeyacre Natural Grass-fed Beef. With plenty of sunshine, fresh air, and native
grass – quality beef has been produced for three generations on the family farm.
Our beef is born and raised on pure pasture that is free of fertilizers and
chemicals. Great care is taken to insure that our animals are never given
antibiotics, hormones, or animal by-product feeds - only pasture and ranch raised
winter forage. We strive to maintain a low-stress environment, including during
transportation.
We offer our USDA inspected products at front-range local farmers’ markets.
Individual cuts as well as halves, split-quarters, and family packs are available from
May to October. Advance orders are recommended. Please contact us for
locations of these markets.
Making the change to grass-fed beef
operation located in Morgan County, Colorado It is our pleasure to produce
Honeyacre Natural Grass-fed Beef. With plenty of sunshine, fresh air, and native
grass – quality beef has been produced for three generations on the family farm.
Our beef is born and raised on pure pasture that is free of fertilizers and
chemicals. Great care is taken to insure that our animals are never given
antibiotics, hormones, or animal by-product feeds - only pasture and ranch raised
winter forage. We strive to maintain a low-stress environment, including during
transportation.
We offer our USDA inspected products at front-range local farmers’ markets.
Individual cuts as well as halves, split-quarters, and family packs are available from
May to October. Advance orders are recommended. Please contact us for
locations of these markets.
Making the change to grass-fed beef
Nutritional Benefits
Grass-fed beef contains much less total fat than beef from a grain fed,
feedlot-raised cow - 50% to 65% less.1 And, leaner beef is lower-calorie beef,
contributing to an all-around healthier diet.
Beef from pastured cattle is four times higher in Vitamin E than beef from feedlot
cattle.2
Not all fats are created equal! Research identified two "good" fats, omega-3 fatty
acids and conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA. Both of these fats show signs of being
potent weapons against cancer and other diseases.
Grass-fed beef contains significantly higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids. This
fatty acid is likely to be beneficial in terms of its effect on the incidence of coronary
heart disease, some cancers and other lifestyle-related diseases such as
cardiovascular disease, depression, ADHD, diabetes, Alzheimer's, obesity, asthma,
and autoimmune diseases. Current research shows that an increase of omega-3
in the diet reduces the incidence of these diseases.
CLA - conjugated linoleic acid - is another "good" fatty acid that has been found
three to five times higher in products from animals pasture-raised than those fed
conventional feedlot diets. If the same pasture hay is dried and then used as feed,
the cows produce far less CLA, showing the importance of a diet consisting of
living vegetation.3
A recent study examined breast adipose tissue from 360 women diagnosed with
breast tumors. In the study, investigators found an inverse relationship between
breast-tissue CLA content and risk of breast cancer.4 Though not yet proven,
this relationship points to CLA's potential cancer-fighting properties and more
important studies are currently underway.
In another study investigating CLA's effect on hamsters, CLA reduced fatty streak
formation and reduced total serum cholesterol levels.5 Current studies are
looking into CLA's cholesterol-reducing properties in humans as well.
Environmental Benefits
According to a team of Colorado State University researchers, plant species
biodiversity is greatest in moderately-grazed areas. In un grazed pastures, the
strongest or most dominant plant species, such as the pricklypear cactus, tend to
over-produce and choke out other native species. The researchers also noted
that grazeland today looks much as it did in the 1800s, due to the healthy and
diverse mixture of native grasses and plants.
Manure makes great fertilizer, as we all know. But in a feedlot, where there is a
tremendous amount of manure in a confined area, what should be a valuable
resource is instead a waste-management problem, threatening wildlife and
groundwater, and bothering neighboring communities. Grass-fed cattle deposit
manure over a much larger area, returning beneficial nutrients back to the soil and
vegetation in a natural cycle.
Economic Benefits
Buying feedlot-raised beef supports large corporations, many of whom focus on
producing more beef more quickly and more cheaply, ignoring environmental,
humane, and nutrition concerns.
Buying grass-fed beef from local ranchers not only supports the ranchers
themselves, but also their way of raising beef that is more humane,
environmentally-friendly, and that produces a more nutritious product.
For more information please see:
Grass-fed Basics
References:
1. "Chemical Compostion and Shear Force Requirement of Loin Eye Muscle of Young, Forage-Fed Steers,"
Fukumoto, G.K., Y.S. Kim, D. Oduda, H. Ako, 1995, Research Extension Series 161:1-5.
2. "Dietary Supplementation of Vitamin E to Cattle to Improve Shelf-Life and Case-Life of Beef for Domestic
and International Markets," Smith, G.C., Colorado State University.
3. "Conjugated Linoleic Acid Content of Milk from Cows Fed Different Diets," Dhiman, T.R., G.R. Anand,
et.al., 1999, J. Dairy Science, 82(10):2146-56.
4. "Inverse Relation Between CLA in Adipose Breast Tissue and Risk of Breast Cancer: A Case-Controlled
Study in France," A. Aro, Bougnoux, P., Lavillonniere F., Riboli E., et.al., 1999, Inform 10;5:S43.
5. "Dietary Conjugated Linoleic Acid Reduced Plasma Lip proteins and Early Aortic Atherosclerosis in
Hypercholesterolemic Hamsters," Nicolosi R.J., Rogers E.J., Kritchevsky D., et.al., 1997, Artery 22:266-77.
6. "By-Product Feedstuffs in Dairy Cattle Diets in the Upper Midwest," Randy D. Shaver, Ph.D., Associate
Professor, Extension Nutritionist, Department of Dairy Science, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences,
University of Wisconsin.
Grass-fed beef contains much less total fat than beef from a grain fed,
feedlot-raised cow - 50% to 65% less.1 And, leaner beef is lower-calorie beef,
contributing to an all-around healthier diet.
Beef from pastured cattle is four times higher in Vitamin E than beef from feedlot
cattle.2
Not all fats are created equal! Research identified two "good" fats, omega-3 fatty
acids and conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA. Both of these fats show signs of being
potent weapons against cancer and other diseases.
Grass-fed beef contains significantly higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids. This
fatty acid is likely to be beneficial in terms of its effect on the incidence of coronary
heart disease, some cancers and other lifestyle-related diseases such as
cardiovascular disease, depression, ADHD, diabetes, Alzheimer's, obesity, asthma,
and autoimmune diseases. Current research shows that an increase of omega-3
in the diet reduces the incidence of these diseases.
CLA - conjugated linoleic acid - is another "good" fatty acid that has been found
three to five times higher in products from animals pasture-raised than those fed
conventional feedlot diets. If the same pasture hay is dried and then used as feed,
the cows produce far less CLA, showing the importance of a diet consisting of
living vegetation.3
A recent study examined breast adipose tissue from 360 women diagnosed with
breast tumors. In the study, investigators found an inverse relationship between
breast-tissue CLA content and risk of breast cancer.4 Though not yet proven,
this relationship points to CLA's potential cancer-fighting properties and more
important studies are currently underway.
In another study investigating CLA's effect on hamsters, CLA reduced fatty streak
formation and reduced total serum cholesterol levels.5 Current studies are
looking into CLA's cholesterol-reducing properties in humans as well.
Environmental Benefits
According to a team of Colorado State University researchers, plant species
biodiversity is greatest in moderately-grazed areas. In un grazed pastures, the
strongest or most dominant plant species, such as the pricklypear cactus, tend to
over-produce and choke out other native species. The researchers also noted
that grazeland today looks much as it did in the 1800s, due to the healthy and
diverse mixture of native grasses and plants.
Manure makes great fertilizer, as we all know. But in a feedlot, where there is a
tremendous amount of manure in a confined area, what should be a valuable
resource is instead a waste-management problem, threatening wildlife and
groundwater, and bothering neighboring communities. Grass-fed cattle deposit
manure over a much larger area, returning beneficial nutrients back to the soil and
vegetation in a natural cycle.
Economic Benefits
Buying feedlot-raised beef supports large corporations, many of whom focus on
producing more beef more quickly and more cheaply, ignoring environmental,
humane, and nutrition concerns.
Buying grass-fed beef from local ranchers not only supports the ranchers
themselves, but also their way of raising beef that is more humane,
environmentally-friendly, and that produces a more nutritious product.
For more information please see:
Grass-fed Basics
References:
1. "Chemical Compostion and Shear Force Requirement of Loin Eye Muscle of Young, Forage-Fed Steers,"
Fukumoto, G.K., Y.S. Kim, D. Oduda, H. Ako, 1995, Research Extension Series 161:1-5.
2. "Dietary Supplementation of Vitamin E to Cattle to Improve Shelf-Life and Case-Life of Beef for Domestic
and International Markets," Smith, G.C., Colorado State University.
3. "Conjugated Linoleic Acid Content of Milk from Cows Fed Different Diets," Dhiman, T.R., G.R. Anand,
et.al., 1999, J. Dairy Science, 82(10):2146-56.
4. "Inverse Relation Between CLA in Adipose Breast Tissue and Risk of Breast Cancer: A Case-Controlled
Study in France," A. Aro, Bougnoux, P., Lavillonniere F., Riboli E., et.al., 1999, Inform 10;5:S43.
5. "Dietary Conjugated Linoleic Acid Reduced Plasma Lip proteins and Early Aortic Atherosclerosis in
Hypercholesterolemic Hamsters," Nicolosi R.J., Rogers E.J., Kritchevsky D., et.al., 1997, Artery 22:266-77.
6. "By-Product Feedstuffs in Dairy Cattle Diets in the Upper Midwest," Randy D. Shaver, Ph.D., Associate
Professor, Extension Nutritionist, Department of Dairy Science, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences,
University of Wisconsin.
Why Honeyacre Grass-fed Beef?
