Niman Ranch Talks to Dr. Oz About All-Natural Beef

As seen on The Dr. Oz Show, 5th generation cattle rancher and cattle handling expert, Mel Coleman, highlights the importance of all-natural beef and following your beef from farm to table.

Click the image above to watch Niman Ranch on Dr. Oz

All-Natural Beef Q&A With Mel Coleman

Q: What was it like being on The Dr. Oz Show?

A: It was an honor to be on The Dr. Oz Show and to know that someone of his stature and influence recognizes the need to reduce the use of antibiotics in livestock production.

Q: How important is it to understand where your food comes from?

A: It is very important! You want to know where your food is coming from and buy brands you can trust. You want to feel confident that you are buying all-natural beef that has never been given antibiotics or hormones -ever! Especially for consumers concerned with purchasing meats that come from livestock Raised with Care^® in healthy, unstressed environments by small family farmers and ranchers who are devoted to maintaining and improving the environment without the use of antibiotics or growth hormones, you need to know where your food is coming from.

Q: What is special about Niman Ranch ground beef?

A: Niman Ranch ground beef comes only from cattle produced by our network of Niman Ranch family farmers and ranchers – farmers and ranchers who share our values on animal welfare. Values that include the strict care and handling practices along with genetics that produce the highest quality, nutritious, and great-tasting all-natural beef. Consumers want to know where their food comes from and buy brands they can trust. All Niman Ranch products come from our network of family farms and ranches.

Q: How has Niman Ranch been able to raise cattle consistently without antibiotics or hormones?

A: Genetics and sound management practices play an important role in reducing the need for antibiotics. Livestock that are raised in conditions conducive to their natural behaviors are healthier. Our animals have adequate space, shelter, and always have access to feed and water. At Niman Ranch our cattle mature naturally – we never use growth hormones or mix antibiotics in feeds to promote growth, prevent disease or induce unnecessary stress.

Q: How important is animal welfare? Do you believe that it affects the taste of the animals’ meat? If so, how?

A: Animal welfare is critical to livestock being healthy and stress-free. We understand and avoid circumstances when handling cattle that would cause the animals to feel fear or excitement. Livestock raised in these stress-free conditions produce better tasting meats because stress can change the taste of the meat.

Q: What do you want consumers to know about Niman Ranch all-natural beef?

A: Niman Ranch is the brand consumers can trust: we raise animals sustainably and handle them with care. We never use antibiotics or growth hormones. As I said on the show, “Trust but verify.” We want the consumer to know that third parties double and triple check everything we do. Even though our standards are the strictest and most transparent in the market, we still understand the consumer’s need for third party verification. That is why we appreciate the audits and work done by Certified Humane® and the Global Animal Partnership (GAP). In addition, because we know consumers want to know how animals are treated and where their food comes from, we have a closed network of like-minded farm and ranch “partners”. In fact, we have more field agents working with our farms and ranches than we do sales people. In addition to providing great tasting meats we strive to earn consumer trust. You can learn more about our family farmers and ranchers on our website.