Our 100% Grass-Fed Beef
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Ranch Packages
Choose from our Ranch Packages with premium cuts: steaks, roasts, ground beef, and favorites. Want to customize? We sell individual cuts, ground beef, sausages, salami, organ meats, bones, jerky, and more. All cuts are portioned in convenient sizes. Need to stock up? We offer whole sides and quarter beef—ideal for families and meal prep.
Bulk Beef
Available in 9 lb and 18 lb boxes or any amount you want. About 80/20 lean-to-fat for juicy, flavorful burgers. Processed year-round in a USDA-inspected facility for consistent, high-quality beef. Cattle are raised with low-stress handling, grazing native grasses on large coastal pastures with ocean views; no added hormones or steroids. No GMOs. No grains. Contact us via email for our Wholesale options: Info@BestGrassfedBeef.com
Beef Cuts
We offer individual cuts, ground beef, sausages, salami, organ meats, bones, jerky, and more. Availability can vary at different times of the year. We have been selling direct Farm to Table for over 20 years. When purchasing from us, you’re supporting environmentally friendly and sustainable agricultural practices designed to maintain a healthy ecosystem for our cattle and the native wildlife on our ranch land.
Health Benefits of All-Natural 100% Grass-Fed Beef
The Omegas 3 & 6
Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids often have opposing physiological functions (and evidence is emerging that their ratio in the diet may be an important factor in human health). 1
Omega-3 fatty acids are produced by living green plant leaves. Omega-3's are important to the healthy function of the brain 2, (people are less likely to suffer from depression, schizophrenia, attention deficit disorder, or Alzheimer's disease). In fact, they play a role in every cell and system in the body. Known as one of the "good fats," it has been linked to lowering blood pressure, reducing heart attacks, fighting depression, and reducing cancer. 3 It is estimated that only 40% of Americans consume an adequate supply of omega-3 fatty acids. 4
Omega-6-fatty acids are found in the seed heads of plants (grains) and vegetable oils. A diet too rich in these Omega-6s has been linked to obesity, diabetes, immune system disorders, and cancer. 5 To function well, our bodies require a balance between these two fatty acids. Ideally, 1:1 is the best. For many people, a diet high in grains and vegetable oils (corn, peanut, safflower, soy, and walnut) has destroyed that balance. Omega -6 fatty acids are vital for human health; they just need to be present in the correct ratio. At present, omega-6 fatty acids provide about 85% of Americans’ energy intake from polyunsaturated fatty acids. 6
Grass-fed beef is three times higher in omega-3 fatty acids than grain-fed beef, making the fatty acid ratio in Grass-Fed ideal for what our bodies require. The grass-fed/ grass-finished beef will have omega 6:3 ratios of 2:1 or less, while beef finished for a few weeks on grain will have omega 6:3 ratios of somewhere around 10:1. Feedlot beef has omega 6:3 ratios of over 20:1. 7 This is a huge difference.
CLA - Conjugated Linoleic Acid & Vitamin E
The primary source of CLA in our diets comes from ruminant animals. Some is found in fish products, but it is negligible compared to beef and dairy products. Grass-fed beef contains five times more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and five times more Vitamin E than grain-fed beef. 8 CLA can help prevent cancer and also reduce cancer-cell growth. Grass-fed beef is higher in vaccenic acid (which can be transformed into CLA). 12 Vitamin E helps form red blood cells and is a powerful antioxidant that protects cell membranes and other fat-soluble body tissues. Vitamin E also aids in the prevention of heart disease and cancer. 9
Omega-3 fatty acids, beta carotene (converted in our bodies to Vitamin A), CLA, and Vitamin E are all produced in living green plant tissues and are stored in the cow's meat and fat in forms that our bodies can easily digest. When a cow's diet is supplemented with grain while on pasture, the benefits of the grass-fed diet will be lost, and the omega-6 fatty acid content will be raised.
Vitamin A
Beta-carotene is 4 times higher in grass-fed pasture-based beef! It is converted in our bodies to Vitamin A. Our bodies only convert enough Vitamin A to meet their demands; there is no fear of Vitamin A toxicity. Chico State explains further.
Grass-Fed Versus Grain-Fed Differences
One of the main reasons animals are fed large amounts of grain is that they grow fatter faster. Grain is a more concentrated form of energy than grass and provides more starch and calories. The net result of a high-grain diet is fattier beef. Grass-fed beef is four to six times lower in fat than grain-fed beef and contains only half the saturated fat, making it as lean as poultry and wild game. 10
The reduced-fat content also makes it significantly lower in calories than grain-fed beef. A six-ounce beef loin from a grass-fed cow may have 92 fewer calories than a six-ounce loin from a grain-fed cow. 11
Grass-fed beef is higher in the minerals calcium, magnesium, and potassium.
Visit the Chico State website for a more in-depth reference to the health benefits of grass-fed beef.
Footnotes / Resources
The above information is from the following resources.
- Simopoulos, A. P. "The Importance of the Ratio of Omega-6/Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids." Biomed Pharmacother 56, no. 8 (2002): 365-79.
- Kalmijn, S., E. J. Feskens, L. J. Launer, and D. Kromhout. "Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Antioxidants, and Cognitive Function in Very Old Men." Am J Epidemiol 145, no. 1 (1997): 33-41
- Simopolous, A. P. and Jo Robinson (1999). The Omega Diet. New York, HarperCollins.
Bagga, D., K. H. Anders, H. J. Wang, and J. A. Glaspy. "Long-Chain omega-3 to omega-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Ratios in Breast Adipose Tissue from Women with and without Breast Cancer." Nutr Cancer 42, no. 2 (2002): 180-5.
(Kalmijn et al., 1997a; Kalmijn et al., 1997b; Yehuda et al., 1996; Hibbeln, 1998; Hibbeln et al., 1995; Stoll et al., 1999; Calabrese et al., 1999; Laugharne et al., 1996). - Dolecek, T. A. and G. Grandits (1991). "Dietary Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Mortality in the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial (MRFIT)." World Rev Nutr Diet 66: 205-16
- Rose, D. P., J. M. Connolly, et al. (1995). "Influence of Diets Containing Eicosapentaenoic or Docasahexaenoic Acid on Growth and Metastasis of Breast Cancer Cells in Nude Mice." Journal of the National Cancer Institute 87(8): 587-92
- Reference to 85% energy intake
- Duckett, S. K., D. G. Wagner, L. D. Yates, H. G. Dolezal, and S. G. May. "Effects of Time on Feed on Beef Nutrient Composition." J Anim Sci 71, no. 8 (1993): 2079-88
- CLA claim
- (Lonn and Yusuf, 1997; Jialal and Fuller, 1995; Stampfer et al., 1993; Knekt et al., 1994).
- Williams, J.E., D.G. Wagner, L.E. Walters, G.W. Horn, G.R. Waller, P.L. Sims And J.J. Guenther. 1983. Effect of production systems on performance, body composition and lipid and mineral profiles of soft tissue in cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 57:1020.
- Siscovick, D. S., T. E. Raghunathan, et al. (1995). "Dietary Intake and Cell Membrane Levels of Long-Chain n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and the Risk of Primary Cardiac Arrest." JAMA 274(17): 1363-1367
- New Study released in June 2009 by S.K. Duckett et al, Journal of Animal Science, (published online) June 2009, Effects of winter stocker growth rate and finishing system on: III. Tissue proximate, fatty acid, vitamin, and cholesterol content.
FAQs
When is our beef ready?
Our beef is available for ordering year-round.
Is there a difference between our 100% grass-fed beef and organic?
Yes. With our 100% grass fed product, there is no grain-fed ever. Organic can be grain-fed. Grass-fed is higher in Vitamin E, beta carotene, Omega 3 fatty acids, and also higher in CLA's compared to organic grain-fed.
Is our ground beef lean?
Yes, most definitely. Our ground beef is as lean as skinless chicken and wild deer.
Does grass-fed beef need to be cooked differently than grain-fed beef?
Yes. Grass-fed beef is lower in fat than grain-fed beef and therefore requires less cooking time and is cooked at lower temperatures.
Why is grass-fed beef healthier than grain-fed beef?
Grain is not a natural diet for cattle. Grain-fed cattle gain weight rapidly and unnaturally and are therefore higher in fat content, calories, and cholesterol than grass-fed beef. Grass-fed beef is also higher in heart-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids and beta carotene, which is derived from the grasses and plants that cattle graze upon. See our Health Benefits of Grass-Fed Beef for more information.
Does Bear River Valley Beef use any grain feeds?
No. We are 100% grass-fed, all grass, all of the time.
How much meat will fit into my freezer?
One cubic foot of freezer space will hold approximately 35 to 40 pounds of meat. This would be half of the freezer that sits on top of your refrigerator. A quarter side of beef requires a 2-3 cubic foot freezer, and then a half will need a 5-6 cubic foot freezer.
How much does it cost to run a freezer to store my beef at home?
To run an energy-efficient chest freezer that would hold one whole beef costs around $30 per year.
How long can I store my beef in a freezer?
Our beef freezes very well and can be kept in a freezer for more than one year.
What payment methods do you use?
We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.
Is my personal information safe?
Yes. We do not rent, share, or sell your contact or financial information.
How is beef shipped?
We do offer free local delivery to your home or business. Free delivery covers Ferndale, Eureka, Arcata, McKinleyville, Fortuna, Blue Lake, and surrounding areas.
We ship orders with FedEx on Mondays or Tuesdays. Orders are shipped in insulated boxes with appropriate ice packs or dry ice. Orders are sent via 2 Day Ground service - no signature required. This means that your packages will be left at your delivery address. We do not ship orders without confirming the ship date with you via email and telephone.
How is beef processed and packaged?
Our beef is processed at a USDA-certified facility and is aged for 14 days. The beef is hand-cut and trimmed with care, then packaged in Cryovac vacuum-sealed packages that are frozen. We ship in insulated boxes with either dry ice or frozen gel packs.
Can I track my shipment?
Yes. We will provide you with your FedEx tracking codes upon shipping.
Is our beef USDA-inspected?
Yes, it is.