Grass Fed Cabrito
Why is grass fed better for the animal?
Ruminants such as goats were designed to eat forage. Forage (e.g., grass. pasture, range, browse, and hay)and is the most natural diet for goats, sheep and cattle. Some of the reasons grains and other concentrates are added to the diets is because these ingredients are inexpensive and convenient and result in fast growth. But a high grain and concentrate diet is difficult on the goats digestive system and often causes upsets or metabolic disorders.
When these animals are “fattened” on a high concentrate diet, instead of allowing to forage, the digestive system changes. Grains are digested more rapidly than the cellulose in forage. More food can be eaten in a shorter period of time. Faster growth occurs and the extra energy is stored as fat. But this high energy process can cause problems. The microbes that digest grains differ from those that digest forage and are killed off. The stomach becomes more acidic frequently causing acidosis. Symptoms of acidosis include diarrhea, ulcers, bloat, liver disease and a general weakening of the immune system. Animals high in acid go off their feed, pant, salivate excessively and may even die. They basically are poisoned.
Always check the label. “Natural,” contrary what we might think, does not mean grass fed or antibiotic free. Both antibiotics and hormones are used to help animals to grow faster and to increase profits. Always confirm that the product you purchase has not had any hormones or growth stimulants. Livestock raised or finished in confined areas require antibiotics added to the grain concentrate. Sometimes this is because of illness, but mainly antibiotics are used to prevent the spread of disease caused by overcrowding and poor sanitation.
