06/25/08 Conventional, Natural and Organic

Conventional, natural or organic  which beef is best? I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be back right after this with some thoughts. Which beef should you eat  conventional, natural or organically raised? My advice is whatever one you want. It's all healthy and satisfying. The 2008 Montana Livestock Farm and Nutrition Conference was just held in Bozeman. A Western Livestock Reporter article by Tichell Ickes stated over 200 people listened to speakers discussing pros and cons of raising and marketing natural and conventional raised beef. One speaker, Dr. Gary Sides, a Pfizer Animal Health nutritionist contends growth hormones, ionophores and antibiotics are essential if global food demands double or triple in the next 40 years. He states any of these technological advances pose no health risk to consumers. Trey Patterson, CEO of Wyoming's Padlock Ranch says raising natural beef was an economical decision. With consumers spending $50 billion per year on natural and organic products and growth reaching 20 percent some years, it is a market worth looking into. Both men agree there is no evidence that natural beef is healthier or more nutritious than conventional beef, but consumer perceptions are driven by their ideals. In a blind taste test the conference audience gave basically the same marks of preference to conventional and natural beef followed by organic. I still say eat the type of beef you like  it's all good. I'm Jeff Keane. Western Livestock Reporter 5/28/08