Is Laura’s Beef Actually Humane? A Close Look at Their Animal Welfare Practices

When it comes to choosing ethical meat products, many consumers look for labels like “humane” or “sustainably raised.” Brands like Laura’s Lean Beef pride themselves on more natural, humane practices for raising cattle. But what exactly does “humane” mean, and does Laura’s Beef live up to these standards?

In this in-depth article, we’ll examine what constitutes humane treatment for farm animals, take a close look at Laura’s Beef’s specific practices, and provide tips for consumers looking to make informed choices about their meat purchases

Defining Humane Treatment of Livestock

To understand if Laura’s Beef is humanely raised, we first need to define what “humane” means in regards to farm animals. The term humane can be broad, but in general it refers to raising livestock in ways that minimize pain, stress, and suffering.

Some key principles of humane animal treatment include

• Allowing animals to engage in natural behaviors like grazing, rooting, and socializing
• Providing sufficient space for animals to move around freely
• Using slow-growing breeds that aren’t prone to health issues
• Avoiding painful alterations like dehorning or tail docking
• Minimizing the use of confinement, cages, and crates
• Ensuring proper medical care and treatment of injuries/illnesses
• Providing shelter from extreme weather conditions
• Utilizing proper handling techniques and low-stress transportation
• Employing proper stunning techniques before slaughter

Organizations like Certified Humane and Animal Welfare Approved certify farms that adhere to strict standards around these principles. But it’s also important to look beyond labels and dig into specific practices.

An Overview of Laura’s Beef

Laura’s Lean Beef is a popular brand that markets itself as “premium” and “humanely raised.” Their website emphasizes cattle that are grass-fed, hormone-free, and humanely handled. But what exactly goes on behind the scenes? Here are some key details on their production practices:

• Cattle are grass-fed for the first 8-10 months of life, then finished on grain for 3-4 months prior to slaughter.
• The cattle are not confined to crowded feedlots and are free to roam.
• Growth hormones and antibiotics are not used.
• Cattle are raised by family farmers in the Midwest region.
• Laura’s claims cattle are humanely handled without stress.
• There is no third-party certification on animal welfare practices.

At first glance, Laura’s commitment to more natural raising practices seems to indicate humane treatment. But without verified third-party certification, consumers have to largely take their word for it. And some practices still raise questions which we’ll explore in more depth.

Assessing Animal Welfare at Laura’s Beef

When we take a close look at Laura’s production methods and claims, how do they stack up for animal welfare? Here are some key considerations:

Pasture-Raised…But Also Feedlot-Finished

Laura’s touts their cattle “spending most of their lives on pasture,” grazing on open grasslands. While letting cattle roam and graze freely is an important humane practice, Laura’s cattle are finished for 3-4 months at conventional feedlots prior to slaughter. Feedlots are concerning from a welfare perspective due to crowding, increased disease risk, and unnatural diets.

Possible Long-Distance Transport and Handling

While Laura’s cattle may start out grazing on small Midwest farms, they are then transported to and handled at feedlots and processing facilities. Long truck journeys and handling procedures like branding, dehorning, castration, and loading/unloading can be extremely stressful and traumatic for animals both physically and mentally. Laura’s does not provide transparency into these practices.

Lack of Third-Party Certification

As mentioned earlier, Laura’s Beef has no independent auditing or verification of their animal welfare claims. They are not Certified Humane. When it comes to labeling meat “humane” without third-party certification, consumers have to take corporate claims at face value rather than having the assurance of audited standards.

Environmental Impacts of Beef Production

While not directly related to animal welfare, the overall environmental impact of beef production is a growing concern for consumers. Even in more spacious grass-fed systems, beef farming requires substantial resources and generates high levels of greenhouse gas emissions. This raises questions around the ethics and sustainability of beef consumption as a whole.

Tips for Choosing Truly Humane Beef

If you’re concerned about animal welfare, where does this leave you when it comes to buying beef? Here are a few tips:

• Look for trusted certifications on packaging – Certified Humane, Animal Welfare Approved, and Global Animal Partnership are a few labels that verify humane practices.

• Ask questions and build relationships with local ranchers – Talk to farmers at your farmers market or join a CSA where you can ask questions about their specific practices.

• Consider reducing beef consumption – Pairing smaller amounts of certified humane beef with plant-based protein sources can help lower impacts on animal welfare and the environment.

• Support companies with full transparency – Look for brands that openly share information on their practices and standards right on their website. Lack of transparency is a red flag.

The Bottom Line: Is Laura’s Beef Actually Humane?

Given the lack of independent certification and transparency around their handling practices, it’s questionable whether Laura’s Beef actually meets stringent animal welfare standards for their label of “humane.” While their pasture-based grazing is more natural, the feedlot-finishing and unknowns around transport and handling undermine the credibility of their humane claims.

For consumers who want to vote with their dollars for truly humane meat, Laura’s Beef may leave some unanswered questions. However, with the right certifications and producer relationships, it is possible to find ethically raised beef – though environmental impacts will always be inherent in beef production. Taking a “less but better” meat approach by pairing modest amounts of verified humane beef with plant proteins can be one solution. But scrutiny of humane and sustainability claims remains essential.