PCC's beef ranchers — Williamson Farms, Dakota Beef and Country Natural Beef — have set much higher standards that go well beyond what the federal rules allow. They have confirmed a significant list of important differences that set them apart from ranchers who supply mass-market supermarket stores.
These differences include:
All rendered animal by-products have long been banned from the feed supply. The cattle are honored as herbivores.
AMR (Advanced Meat Recovery) systems, allowing spinal tissue to be labeled "100% beef," are not used.
Compliance with feed standards is documented and enforced at every farm for traceability.
Compliance with feed standards is documented and enforced at the feed processing level for traceability.
Individual records are maintained for every animal.
All three ranchers have long prohibited downer cattle from entering the food supply. In contrast, downer cattle were prohibited from the supermarket beef supply on December 30, 2003.
Taste you can trust
PCC carries only Williamson Farms Beef, Country Natural Beef and Dakota Beef. See how these trusted suppliers compare to supermarket beef.
Precautionary measures in beef production
Williamson Farms
Country Natural Beef
Dakota Beef
Supermarket Beef
All rendered animal by-products are banned from feed supply.
Compliance with feed standards is documented and enforced at every farm.
YES
YES
YES
NO
Compliance with feed standards is documented and enforced at the feed processing level.
YES
YES
YES
NO
Standards prohibit use of Advanced Meat Recovery (AMR) systems that allow spinal tissue to be labeled "100% beef."
YES
YES
YES
NO
Individual records are maintained for every animal.
YES
YES
YES
NO
"Downer" cattle have long been prohibited from entering food supply.
YES
YES
YES
YES
Effective 12/30/03
Certified organic feed and pasture.
NO
NO
YES
NO
* Details: Current rules allow bovine blood, blood meal, dead chickens, feathers and their litter in cattle feed. Bovine brains, eyes, skulls and spinal cords from cattle younger than 30 months still are allowed in the human food supply. Source: Federal Register, January 12, 2004.
