How concerned are beef producers with the health and welfare of their cattle?
Depending upon the market the cattle growers are supplying, of course, the "care" will vary widely. Some fast food chains have standards that corn fed beef meet, and the "natural" food markets are often looking for grass fed, grass finished beef. The treatment of the animals is debatable only in that feeding corn and silage to add on fat and increase weight gain is probably not healthy for the grass-eating cattle and may cause illnesses that will need to be addressed with medications some of us may not want to eat. But the fact remains that beef is the cash crop for the rancher and they will do what in their business practices they feel is best for their bottom line and what in their estimation is the best care for the animals.
Beef producers are very committed to the health and well-being of their animals. Providing a healthy environment with ample food, water and veterinary care creates an ideal environment for cattle to grow. From assisting in the birth of a calf late at night to checking on animals in the pasture before sunrise, this is a way of life. Proper animal care is also simply good business. Animals exposed to stress produce lower quality meat, so proper cattle care also means more valuable animals.
