It’s Not the Cow, It’s the How. Myths Destroyed
In Defense of Beef: The Humble Cow’s Case for Regeneration
In Defense of Beef: The Humble Cow’s Case for Regeneration
Lately, the humble cow has been catching a lot of flak. If you believed everything you may have heard, you’d think cattle were single-handedly wrecking the planet. But hold your (grass-fed) horses! Not all beef is created equally, and when raised the right way, cattle can actually help heal the land.
At The North Coast Ranch, we’ve spent some time witnessing that cows aren’t the villains of the environmental story. In fact, they’re some of nature’s best land managers. Through regenerative grazing, our cattle work with the land, not against it—building soil, capturing carbon and making pastures flourish.
How Cows Can Heal the Land
Regenerative farming isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a game-changer. Here’s what our pastures have been up to since we let our cows do what they do best:
🐄 Supercharged Soil: Our soil’s organic matter was under 2%. Now, thanks to grazing, it’s between 3% and 3.5%—which means better water retention, richer nutrients, and more life underground.
💦 Better Water Absorption: Conventional farmland sheds rain like a bad roof. Our fields, on the other hand, can soak up 10+ inches of water per hour. That’s like giving the land its own personal sponge, reducing runoff and preventing erosion.
🌱 More Nutritious Forage: Our BRIX score (a measure of plant sugars and nutrients) has increased from 13 to 17. Translation? Happier cows, healthier beef and a pasture buffet bursting with flavor.
🪱 Earthworms Galore: Once upon a time, you’d find maybe five earthworms in a cubic foot of our soil. Now? 10 to 20 wriggling little soil builders per foot. And that’s a good thing—earthworms turn dirt into gold (nutrient-wise, at least).
Not All "Grass-Fed" Beef is Equal
A quick PSA: Just because a label says "grass-fed" doesn’t mean the cow spent its days happily munching on pasture. Some cattle are raised in feedlots and still qualify for the claim. At The North Coast Ranch, we grass-feed and grass-finish, which means no grain, ever. Just pure, pasture-raised goodness.
Design #2 - Burp catching device for cattle.
The Myth of Plant-Based “Better”
Think swapping burgers for plant-based alternatives is the eco-friendly fix? Not so fast. Most of these products rely on industrial monocropping—massive fields of soy and pea protein that strip the soil and require loads of synthetic fertilizers. Meanwhile, our cattle restore the land while producing nutrient-dense food.
The Bottom Line? Cows Aren’t the Problem—They’re the Solution
It’s easy to point fingers at cows, but the real issue isn’t beef—it’s how beef is raised. When managed properly, cattle don’t just provide food; they create thriving landscapes, healthier ecosystems and some of the best steaks you’ll ever taste.
So go ahead—enjoy that grass-fed burger guilt-free.