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Note: Ratings are based on company record, including parent companies. They are not a comment on the product itself.
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Beef

The Guide > Food & Drink > Frozen Food > Beef 

    Industry Alert: Feedlots

Feedlots

The vast majority of cattle in Australia are grass-fed. However 80% of the beef sold in supermarkets and butcher shops is 'feedlot finished' (fattened with grain). Each animal has five to 10 square metres of space in a pen of 50 to 200 cattle. In these cramped conditions, cattle are forced to stand and sleep in their own manure and endure extremes of weather.

Close confinement means a much higher risk of disease so antibiotic drugs are routinely used. Grain feed commonly causes their digestive systems to be acidic.
  • Talk to your butcher and ask for grass-fed, chemical free meat from a local producer.  [Buy grass-fed online]

Beef in Australia

Brazil's JBS, the world's largest meat company, now controls 25 per cent of Australia's beef industry after buying Australian Meat Holdings, Tasman Group, and Rockdale Beef between 2007 and 2010, plus Andrews Meat and Primo in 2014.

Australia's second largest beef processor, Teys Bros, merged with Cargill Australia's beef division in 2011 creating a joint venture which controls another 21 per cent. Cargill, the world's largest grain trader, second largest meat packer, and US's largest private corporation, also bought AWB (Australian Wheat Board) in 2011.

JBS and Cargill have both been criticised for clearing Amazon rainforest to produce soy for animal feed.
  • Find out about your meat and its story, support local meat suppliers, source farm-gate produce.  [Local Harvest]
BRAND COMPANY OWNED RATING
Cleavers Organic certified organic certified organic Arcadian   Australian Owned  Praises, no criticism1
Enviromeat (VIC)  Gippsland Natural Meats   Australian Owned  No rating3
Harvey Beef  Harvey Beef   (Tattarang) Australian Owned  No rating3
Highland Park  Aldi Australia   (Aldi South) GER  Praises, some criticism4
Jindurra  Aldi Australia   (Aldi South) GER  Praises, some criticism4
Thomas Farms  Thomas Foods International   Australian Owned  Criticism, some praise5
Borthwicks  NH Foods Australia   (NH Foods) JPN  Criticism, some praise5
Oakey  NH Foods Australia   (NH Foods) JPN  Criticism, some praise5
Wingham  NH Foods Australia   (NH Foods) JPN  Criticism, some praise5
Beef City Black  JBS Australia   (JBS) BRA  Criticisms6
Friboi  JBS Australia   (JBS) BRA  Criticisms6
King Island Beef  JBS Australia   (JBS) BRA  Criticisms6
Swift Premium  JBS Australia   (JBS) BRA  Criticisms6
Tasmanian Premium  JBS Australia   (JBS) BRA  Criticisms6
Grasslands  Teys Australia - A Cargill Joint Venture   Australian Owned  USA  Criticisms6
Riverine  Teys Australia - A Cargill Joint Venture   Australian Owned  USA  Criticisms6
Teys  Teys Australia - A Cargill Joint Venture   Australian Owned  USA  Criticisms6



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