What Is Natural Beef?
The natural beef market has
developed into a legitimate marketing
option with incentives attractive
enough to justify consideration.
Generally, “certified natural” cattle
have received premiums ranging
between $0.25 to $15.75 per cwt on a
live-animal basis. This variation is
likely due to the absence of an official,
standardized definition for cattle that
are “naturally produced.” The average
premium being offered by marketing
companies is $5.79 per cwt, while
feedyards are paying $4.76 per cwt.
Although the increase in selling price
is considered a “premium,” often this
premium is necessary to offset losses
in productivity associated with
required management practices to
produce natural beef. In some cases,
these premiums have been consistent
and high enough to exceed losses in
productivity, making cattle producers
take notice.
Before a cattle producer
participates in a natural beef
program, it’s important to have an