Most of the chickens that Americans consume are raised in a factory-farming environment. It can be hard to find pasture-raised chicken in Jackson MS unless you purchase directly from local farmers. Because of the health benefits of consuming meat from pasture-raised animals, more and more people are seeking alternatives to grocery-store chicken. The following are some of the differences between conventionally-raised and pasture-raised chickens.
Environment
Chickens that are raised on a commercial farm typically spend their lives confined to a large, warehouse-type building with a concrete floor. Chickens are packed in so tightly that a full-grown bird may have no more than six square inches of space. These animals never experience the sunshine or fresh air. Even worse, they live in such unsanitary conditions that many get sick or even die from bacterial infections and toxic fumes created by the buildup of their own waste. Pasture-raised chickens, on the other hand, live more natural, healthier lives. They spend time outdoors in a confined area so that they are safe from predators, and they have the refuge of shelter in rain or cold weather.
Breed
Conventionally raised chickens are almost all the same breed a hybrid of Cornish and White Rock. This type of chicken grows rapidly and has a very large breast. Unfortunately, chickens bred in this way are susceptible to death from organ failure when their organs can’t keep pace with the growth of their muscle tissue. Local farmers who raise chickens in a pasture, however, choose from a variety of healthy breeds.
Diet
Chickens that live on commercial farms are typically given antibiotics with their feed because they live in such unsanitary conditions. However, the antibiotics only serve to produce strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that are a danger to other animals and humans. Some chickens are even fed an arsenic compound to kill parasites. Pasture-raised chickens, however, eat a combination of healthy organic grain and the natural grass, grubs, and beetles in their environment.
Not only is pasture-raised chicken healthier to consume, but many people also find that pasture-raised chicken in Jackson MS tastes better than the chicken they normally buy at a grocery store. For more information about the benefits of eating pasture-raised meat, visit Nature’s Gourmet Farm.
