Grass-Fed Meat
Pasture-Raised Chicken: Some Lessons from the French
When we decided to add free-range chicken to our burgeoning farm, we had strict standards: the meat had to have superior flavor and moistness, the birds had to be from a diverse genetic stock, and the introduction of poultry would contribute to our sustainable farming methods.
The French, it turns out have a similar philosophy. In fact, 30% of the poultry sold in France today comes from pasture-raised chicken farmed according to Label Rouge, the strict standards developed to regulate grass-fed poultry.
To qualify as a Label Rouge farm, the chickens must be a slow-growing breed, raised primarily in pasture, fed an all-natural diet, and raised free of medications and antibiotics (unless prescribed). The result is meat that has deeper flavor characteristics, and a texture that surpasses conventionally raised chicken.
At Pasture Prime, our family follows the strict Label Rouge guidelines. We’ve chosen the Poulet Rouge and Red Ranger breeds. Our grass-fed poultry has intense flavor, due to the slow-growth method we employ. In addition to rich taste, slow-growing breeds have balanced growth of their organs, muscle, and bones. They’re hardy and can live outdoors, and because they come from a diverse genetic stock, their immunity is stronger.
Milk-Fed Chickens and New Breeds
If you’re interested in milk-fed chickens, or if you have a free-range chicken breed in mind, contact us here. We’ll be offering milk-fed chickens from our next batch, and we’re happy to accommodate breed requests.
To order our grass-fed chicken, click here. At this time, we can only ship poultry in Florida.
To read more about the French Label Rouge method and our breeds, click here.
