Natural Meat vs. Organic Meat

When we started planning to open Brooker’s Natural Meats we were forced to look at both organic meat and naturally raised meat.  We have researched the principals used in both organic and natural practices of raising animals and have come to believe that certain elements of both are important yet organic seemed to have more to do with the land in which the animals were raised and not as much to do with the care in which the animals were raised. 

Organic meat does not necessarily mean meat that is traditionally raised.  Organic certification refers to what an animal has or has not consumed.  This certification does not take into consideration raising the animal in a humane and sustainable way.  There are organic meat companies that have facilities where animals are raised in confined spaces and fed high grain diets. Even if the feed is organic feed it does not mean it is the natural food that their systems are made to consume.  

Brooker’s Natural Meats selects farmers that are within our province that are following these practices; we do not administer growth hormones and antibiotics to our animals; we allow our animals lots of fresh air and room to graze naturally; our animals feed on things that their diets are meant to consist of long stemmed forage, or GRASS.  The cows are periodically rotated between pastures so that the pastures do not become over-grazed and the animals always have fresh grass. 

Locally raised Meat

We are committed to animals being raised humanely and working with farmers, and local provincially inspected arbitrators in order to keep transporting distances to a minimum.  We believe one of the greatest stresses after crowed confined spaces, are the shipping of livestock to slaughter houses.  Throughout the world there are organizations lobbying for this concern.  In addition to long distance transportation of animals being inhume, it is said that stress prior to slaughter is one of the most important influences on ultimate meat tenderness.