Outdoor Access or Pasture Raised: What’s Best for the Chicken?
Food labels for beef, chicken, and pork are important. Of course, there are the certified labels, but those don’t always tell you everything a farm does to ensure animal welfare and the quality of the food. Descriptive labels, like “pasture raised,” “grass fed,” and “sustainable,” are all clues to help you determine the quality of the food and how the animals lived their lives. While you don’t always find what you’re looking for in terms of quality and ethics in a store, there is ethically raised grass fed beef and pastured chicken online . As you read about these foods, you might wonder what the difference is between animals raised outdoors and those with access to the outdoors, and how these differences affect the meat. What Does “Pasture Raised” Mean for Animals? Pasture raised chicken and pork live outdoors, with shelters for sleeping or protection from unexpected weather. This supports the animals’ quality of life, leading to better nutrient absorpt...