Smuts finger grass grows well in the temperature range of 18 30 c. Our process also includes humane treatment throughout the animals life. All the treatments were cut for hay at two different stages viz during the piping stage and during the early mature stage, when inflorescences opened. Cutting or grazing should not be lower than 50mm above ground level. Usdas food safety inspection service has issued guidance to make sure that the grass fed label on beef means what it says that grass fed or 100% grass fed claims may only be applied to meat labels. Smuts finger grass digitaria eriantha agt foods africa. Table 3 the percentage crude protein % cp of smutsfinger grass. The experience as pretty humorous, but the reality check was a little more serious. Since various bacteria in our digestive tract can convert vaccenic acid into cla once grass fed beef has been consumed, this vaccenic acid supplied by grass fed beef can further increase the practical amount of cla that we receive from grass fed animals.
Smuts finger or finger grass digitaria eriantha cv. Digitaria eriantha smutsfinger is an excellent species for beef and milk production. The value of smuts finger grass for beef production. If youre new here, we invite you to explore our site to learn the benefits of grassfed beef, and why we believe our grassfed beef is healthier, tastier, more environmentally responsible, and more humanely raised than any grassfed beef available anywhere. Smuts finer produces a large quantity of leaf material and is very palatable. It is the finishing process that makes beef tender, not so much corn. Grassfed beef is higher priced because of several significant factors. Performance of beef steers on smuts finger grass and nile grass pasture in. Preparing cattle for summer production farmers weekly. Smuts finger grass grows on a wide variety of soil types including shallow.
Our cattle are raised with a purpose of becoming a nutritious, healthy beef protein. They are carefully chosen for their adaption to an area and for their quality as an animal feed. What were we doing eating argentine beef in the high mountains of the cowboy state. Is grass fed beef production more expensive than producing. This program, is designed for producers who market 49 cattle or less each year or lambs produced from 99 ewes or less. Forage utilisation is the single most critical component of any fodder flow management and production system as it controls the most significant variables such as forage yield and quality, botanical composition and persistence, as well as animal performance. This interest in grass fed beef stems not only from consumers looking for a perceived improvement in animal welfare or quality of the product that they purchase, but it also stems from producers looking to fill a niche market or maintain cattle in a more pastoral setting.
Johan favours a rhodes chloris gayana and smuts finger digitaria eriantha grass mix. Pennisetum clandestinum kikuyu grass originating in kenyas kikuyu region dannhauser, 1987, this is a creeping grass and a prolific grower able to withstand heavy grazing. In reality, all beef comes from cattle that are grassfed. As the system concludes with grass finishing, it is well suited to early maturing cattle and. A comparison between digitaria eriantha steud, subsp. Rotational grazing with a high stocking rate is recommended for the best results.
The performance of samm lambs finished in a feedlot. The highest mass increases, grazing days and herbage production, were obtained on the high nitrogenfertilized smuts finger grass and the coastcross ii that were established on the ploughed areas. So, again these vast differences in grass fed production strategies make a huge difference to the production costs, yet none are a mandatory prerequisite for producing and marketing grass fed beef. Works well with lucerne in rows, bloating still a possibility. If youre new here, we invite you to explore our site to learn the benefits of grassfed beef, and why we believe our grass.
Our grass fed beef has 2 to 6 times more the type of good fat called omega3 fatty acids that help the body fight high blood pressure, heart. Pdf performance of beef steers on smuts finger grass and nile. It is perfect for a healthy snack, light lunch, or road trip. Grassfinished beef while more than 90 percent of all beef consumed in the united states has been finished in a feedlot, a small and growing segment of the industry is producing grassfed beef. The adaption of the south africa sheep industry to new trends. First and of utmost importance, when we speak of low and slow cooking, what we are trying to do is warm up the inside of a steak or roast without overcooking the outside. Manure from cattle as fertilizer for soil fertility and growth characteristics of tall fescue festuca. The value of smuts finger grass for beef production african. Shop our easy online ordering and well ship straight to your door. Residues from grain crops, such as maize, are also useful as a form of forage for animals. It has escaped cultivation and forms dense populations along waterways i. If smuts finger grass is fertilised well, year old weaners or slaughter lams are. Jun 14, 2012 so what do grass fed beef, 100% grass fed beef, and grass finished mean. The value of smuts finger grass for beef production african journal.
There are different systems of feeding cattle in animal husbandry, which may have different advantages and disadvantages. As the system concludes with grass finishing, it is well suited to early maturing cattle and heifers. The benefits of cattle fed only a diet of grass are well established. The economic viability, reproduction, and production parameters of a beef breeding herd bonsmara breed on the pastures and natural veld at the bathurst research. Apr 23, 20 additionally, in keeping the cows fed and cared for, grassfed beef production conserves the use fresh waterwhich is increasingly becoming highly valued global resource. Additionally, in keeping the cows fed and cared for, grassfed beef production conserves the use fresh waterwhich is increasingly becoming highly valued global resource. Thus the short answer is that the cost to produce grass fed beef all depends on what grass fed production strategies have been built into your farm. Festuca arundinacea and smuts finger grass digitaria. Pdf southern african pasture and forage science entering the 21st.
Dec 20, 2017 in reality, all beef comes from cattle that are grass fed. A brief history of grassfed beef menuism dining blog. Slaughter starts in mid season and reduces cattle numbers in line with declining grass production. The production of silage can be highly successful with additional inoculation of. Enjoy the clean taste of your favorite cuts of beef, from cattle raised without gmos, growth hormones or antibiotics.
Microscopic fat cells within the muscle fibers makes meat tender the finished weight when an animal is fat enough for slaughter will vary from breed to breed. Cattle can however utilise this pasture efficiently using a continuous grazing system. Retail price united states grassfed beef has a higher retail price than grainfed beef. These producers are promoting grass fed beef as being both nutritionally superior and. The adaption of the south africa sheep industry to new. The performance of beef weaners in the feedlot at different levels of lucerne inclusion. Finger grass is derived from the flowering head, which extends on a thin stem above the leaves and is crowned by six or seven finger like flower spikes. Is there a difference or is it just different ways of saying the same thing. Consumersare inquiring about the healthfulnessand nutritionaladvan tagesof grassfed thebeef and want to knowhow they can be assured beef labeledgrassfed was really grass fedraised.
Most cattle in the us have a fodder that is composed of at least some forage. The species usually belong to either the grass or legume family. Our holistic system includes grazing cattle on open pasture rather than confining them to feedlots because we value natural grass fed beef production from start to finish. The potential contribution of commercial beef production to global warming is a further concern for many individuals who try to evaluate the appropriateness of beef in their diet. It is normally utilised for grazing from midnovember to the end of april. It is not used for haymaking, as it does not dry out easily. When the farm moved from crop to beef production, the dannhausers gradually transformed 4 000ha croplands into 300ha pasture. Verification of the grassfed claim is accomplished through an audit of production practices in accordance. The usda grass fed program for small and very small svs producers was designed to create opportunities for smallscale livestock producers who would like to have their ruminant animals certified as grass fed. Meat from grass fed cattle has higher levels of conjugated linoleic acid cla and the omega3 fatty acids, ala, epa, and dha. Even though the usa has long been a net exporter of beef, there has been a decadeslong love affair in some areas for argentine grass fed beef.
Us wellness meats beef bologna is a one pound roll of grassfed beef packed with flavor. Amazing grazing nc state has prepared some new guidelines for production of local grassfed beef. Basics of cooking grassfed meat slanker grassfed meat. Smuts finger grass is a species that can be utilised at strategic times during the growing season. Ive since forgotten the details about what kind of car. There are a myriad of production systems operated on suckler beef farms throughout ireland, based on markets, tradition and demographics. It can grow in areas with rainfall of 300mmannum, but, as a planted pasture. Digitaria eriantha smuts finger grass regarded as one of the best grazing grasses, this is often used as standing hay, as it remains tasty until late winter. Here, we illustrate the main difference between the two production systems. Grassfed beef production guidelines north carolina. Technologies underpinning grassbased suckler beef systems. Finger grass is derived from the flowering head, which extends on a thin stem above the leaves and is crowned by six or seven finger. Aug 02, 20 smutsfinger grass allegedly came from an improved strain of digitaria cultivated by jan smuts on his farm in irene, pretoria.
The health benefits to eating this kind of beef are many. Smuts finger grass is a summer growing perennial forage crop. Some of the pastures my father planted to this mix, 30 years ago, are still grazed today, he says. Grass beef or extensive beef has the longest production cycle of all the beef systems. The standard stated among other things that grass, forbs, and forage needed to be 99 percent or more of the energy source for the lifetime of a ruminant species after weaning in order to qualify as grass fed. Beef producersare asking how to properly producegrassfed beef and what marketingopportunitiesare available. Pasture seed production of promising grasses and legumes at domboshava, zimbabwe sustainable feed production and utilisation for smallholder livestock enterprises in subsaharan africa jan 1993 6566. Although the contribution of sheep farming is modest in monetary terms, the industry is of major importance in the. Ireland has a natural comparative advantage to grow grass and, consequently, grass based beef production systems are most profitable. Most grass fed beef is leaner than feedlot beef, lacking marbling, which lowers the fat content and caloric value of the meat. It is also free of nitrates, nitrites, msg, additives, preservatives, soy, dairy and gluten. Prior to the setting of that standard, grain fed animals were often sold as grass fed, with usdas approval.
So what do grass fed beef, 100% grass fed beef, and grass finished mean. Pastures are forage species that are cultivated for livestock feed. And, it can drastically affect the nutritional benefits of beef. Smuts finger grass digitaria eriantha nile grass acroceras macrum dallis grass paspalum dilatatum species of the autumn group can be closed up later than the summer group to achieve the same dry.
Grass fed meat tastes best and is more tender when raw as in steak tartar from a washed steak or a top quality boneless roast or from very rare. Digitaria eriantha smutsfinger dm yields vary with fertility, genotype, and environmental and management conditions, but normally range from about 1020 tha, and under ideal conditions may exceed 30 tha. Lolium multiflorum italian and westerwolds rye grass, secale cereale rye, lolium perenne perennial ryegrass, festuca arundinacea tall fescue, trifolium repens white clover, medicago sativa lucerne, eragrostis tef teff, avena sativa oats, eragrostis curvula lovegrass, digitaria eriantha smuts finger grass and vigna. In early 2000, i just felt i wasnt being rewarded or. Residues from grain crops, such as maize, are also useful as a form of. N fertilized pasture can produce 1,000 kghayr lwg and 6,000 kghayr milk, with stocking rates of 2. Grazing for all qualities of livestock, reduce seed production by topping once or twice during the growing season. As far as the soil series are concerned, the glendale and the williamson series performed better in terms of the three parameters than the gelykvlakteseries did. As far as the soil series are concerned, the glendale and the williamson series performed better in terms of the three parameters than the. Grass finished beef while more than 90 percent of all beef consumed in the united states has been finished in a feedlot, a small and growing segment of the industry is producing grass fed beef. However, the absolute levels of cla and the omega3 acids remain extremely low. This can only be done with relatively low heat and a longer cooking period. A few months ago, there was a tv commercial that compared the driving experience in a high performance sports car to eating grassfed beef.
For optimal production, rainfall must exceed 700mm annum. Reduce seed production by topping once or twice during growing season. To be sure the beef you are buying was truly raised free of grains, look for the words grassfed and grass finished on the usdaapproved package label. Rhodes grass will disappear after 3 4 years and the smuts finger will take over. Usda acts to preserve grass fed standard agripulse. It is also frost tolerant, however, if severe frost 10 to 15 c is experienced regularly or before plants become dormant, the longevity of the stands may be compromised. The history of western grassfed beef from founder darrell wood. Apr 17, 2015 in contrast, free raised beef is 100% grassfed and 100% grassfinished, meaning our cattle are finished on a diet of highquality grass and stored forages hay, never on grains. Grass fed beef contains greater amounts of vaccenic acid than conventionally fed beef.
Smutsfinger, rhodes grass, panicum maximum en anthephora pubescens 1 kg each per ha for uncoated seed. The grassfed beef revolution is here, and tallgrass beef company is leading the way. Enjoy the clean taste of your favorite cuts of beef, from cattle raised without gmos, growth hormones or. Usda revokes grass fed label standard cornucopia institute.
A perennial summer growing grass which is palatable as grazing and makes good hay and silage. This interest in grassfed beef stems not only from consumers looking for a perceived. Retail price united states grass fed beef has a higher retail price than grainfed beef. It is also good as foggage early in the winter season. It does well when compared to lowproductive native grass. Smutsfinger grass allegedly came from an improved strain of digitaria cultivated by jan smuts on his farm in irene, pretoria. Digitaria eriantha smuts finger grass smutsvingergras in 1924.
Range beef is tougher beef, and has a strong, almost gamy taste, so proper grass fed beef is grass fed and then grass finished. Grass fed beef is higher priced because of several significant factors. I am a sixthgeneration cattle rancher in northern california. May 04, 2016 pennisetum clandestinum kikuyu grass originating in kenyas kikuyu region dannhauser, 1987, this is a creeping grass and a prolific grower able to withstand heavy grazing.