Nutritional value of suckler beef from temperate pasture systems

The role of beef in human diets has been questioned over the last few decades, due largely to its typically high mass-based carbon footprint. However, recent advancements sustainability literature challenge this paradigm based on new theory that climate impacts food commodities should be measured relative their overall nutritional value rather than nominal mass. This shift opened a opportunity for global industry, and especially pasture-based systems can avoid food-feed competition land other resources, as is nutritionally dense food. Nonetheless, sector’s true capability supply wide range nutrients humans, consistently across multiple under weather patterns, not well-documented. Using whole-system datasets from North Wyke Farm Platform South West England, we investigated produced three most common pasture temperate regions: permanent (PP), grass white clover (GWC) short-term monoculture ley (MG). Beef these was analysed key (fatty acids, minerals vitamin E) production cycles (2015–2017) determine potential differences between systems. Fatty acid, mineral E profiles silage fed each group were also assessed, with subtle pastures reported. For beef, observed systems, GWC having higher omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) concentrations PP MG. quality found comparable all suggesting classified single commodity future assessments, regardless specific sward types. A 100 g serving source (>20% recommended daily intake: RDI) protein, monounsaturated saturated vitamins – B2, B3, B12 Fe, P, Zn; good (10–19% B6 K; complementary (5–9% omega-3 PUFA, B9 Cu, Mg, Se. item used defining environmental cost (e.g. footprint) make fair comparisons different groups protein sources). Here, showed had nutrient indexed footprint 0.19 0.23 Kg CO2-eq/1% RDI nutrients.