DowntoEarth Grass Fed: An Introduction

100% Grass Fed Products from local crossbreeds raised by small farmers who raise their livestock on pasture, as nature intended it to be.  (Read more: Where do we get our beef?)

LOCAL CROSS-BREED 

DowntoEarth through its grass-fed beef desires to promote local, native and indigenous cattle breeds.* By doing so, we are able to ensure not only optimum health benefits in the food we eat but socio-economic benefits for those who raise our cattle. (See: Farmers who raise our Grass Fed cattle.)

DowntoEarth Grass-Fed Beef comes from the the native Yellow or Southern Yellow  cross-bred with Nellore or Ongole and American  Brahman  cattle. These cross-breeds can be traced back to pre-colonial times.  

The result of this cross breeding is a medium-framed, hardy animal, with notable physical strength. This breed is known for its ability to thrive under the harsh climatic, nutritional and sanitary conditions, frequently seen in Mindanao. Due to their hardiness and rustling ability, the native breed surpasses all other breeds even under conditions of poor quality grass,  drought or extreme rainfall. Calves are very strong, even standing up and suckling soon after they are born.

Pasture-Raised, No Hormones or Antibiotics

The hardy native cattle have been bred and raised for use as draft animals in small farms. Because of this, they have been raised on pasture, fed grass and without the use of any antibiotics or growth hormones.

Heat and Insect Resistant

The native cattle is covered with loose skin and has sweat glands that are not only more but twice bigger than those of the European breeds.  The resulting low-level of metabolism contributes to heat resistance.  The native cattle  feeds less but often, generating less internal heat. It also  possesses natural resistance to various insects, as its skin has a dense texture, making it difficult for blood sucking insects to penetrate. This native breed also have a well developed subcutaneous muscle layer which enables them to remove insects simply by shaking their coat.

Meat Quality

The beef from native  cattle is very lean but substantially  high  in Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for normal growth and may play an important role in the prevention and treatment of coronary artery disease, hypertension, arthritis, other inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, and cancer.  Read more: Health Benefits of Local Grass Fed Beef. 

*Commercial beef (most beef you find in your supermarket) is not good for you.  This is because the modern cow, usually Holsteins, are raised using selective breeding to produce cows with abnormally active pituitary glands and by-high protein feeding.  The pituitary gland not only produces hormones that stimulate milk production, it also produces growth hormones. The FDA has even approved a genetically engineered growth hormone for cows.  This practice will add to the high level of bovine growth hormones.  Small amounts of hormones are necessary, moderate are not harmful, but a superfluity can result in growth abnormalities.  Excessive pituitary hormones are also associated with tumor formation.  These cows are prone to many diseases are needs frequent doses of antibiotics. (from Nourishing Traditions, Sally Fallon.)

Support for Small Farmers

Raising native cattle is economically viable for small farmers as they only need one or a few animals, with low capital for purchasing and maintenance.  The cattle is also raised in the pasture or fed only grass, lowering feed cost. By buying native cattle from these areas in Mindanao, we are able to play a role in ensuring food security and generating income for small farmers and agricultural laborers.