Why does Niman Ranch ban the use of growth hormones for its livestock?
In the United States, federal regulations ban the use of growth-promoting hormones for hogs, but not for cattle and sheep. It’s estimated that over 90% of conventional cattle operations now use growth hormones to increase the rate of lean muscle and promote water retention in their animals. Niman Ranch opposes using growth hormones and bans their use for all livestock. Growth hormones, which are outlawed in much of Europe, raise a number of environmental, animal health and human health concerns. Our farmers and ranchers believe that animals should be allowed to mature naturally. Allowing them to do so produces meat that contains less water than conventionally produced meat, and is a big factor in the superior flavor of Niman Ranch meat.
