The Red Meat Debacle — We Blamed the Cow Instead of the System
For decades, red meat was villainized.
But the real problem wasn’t beef — it was the industrialized production model behind it.
In this provocative, perspective-shifting episode of Rubin On Point, ranch manager Katie Ross (Iron Springs Ranch, Skull Valley, Arizona) walks us through what actually changes when cattle are raised in a regenerative system:
— adaptive rotational grazing
— elevation & terrain → animal cardiovascular strength
— geofencing collars replacing barbed wire
— soil-first philosophy (your nutrients start underground)
— high omega-3 : omega-6 ratios (less inflammatory fat)
— higher CLA (metabolic support + anti-inflammatory benefits)
— no grains, no synthetics, no “bad days” for the herd
This isn’t trendy.
This is regenerative agriculture — and it’s what meat used to be before feedlots, corn finishing, and profit-over-stewardship models hijacked the narrative.
We cover water myths, herd behavior (meet Josie, the lead cow), microbiome in soil → microbiome in animals → microbiome in humans, AND the return of tallow — not just for high-heat cooking but for clean, bio-compatible skincare.
If you’ve been anti-beef… this episode may change your mind.
If you’ve been pro-protein… this gives you the why.
ORDER HERE — shipping + delivery options
👉 BornAndGrAZedaz.com
Now delivering to Phoenix + Flagstaff/Sedona every other week
More ranch info: ISRskullvalley.com
“Thank you guys so much for having me — I really hope I was able to effectively communicate how much we love this work and how important it is for the land, the animals, and your health.”
Chapters
00:00 Intro & resilience sign-off
00:42 Show open: Why talk about red meat now
01:22 Meet Katie & Skull Valley geography
02:14 Elevation, animal health & training analogies
03:13 What “regenerative” ranching means
04:00 Rotational grazing 101 (don’t over/under graze)
04:38 Moving cattle: horseback + geofencing collars
05:25 Daily animal checks, minerals & water
06:42 Water sources, intake & heat—myths vs reality
08:42 Do cows “know” you? Herd handling & temperament
10:26 Soil testing, microbes & nutrient density
12:06 Conventional history, tilling & why soil structure matters
14:13 Letting weeds start the succession → better grasses
15:58 Overseeding + cool vs warm season diversity
18:02 Epigenetics of foraging (calves learn from moms)
18:23 Rocky, hilly terrain & hardy animals
19:32 Replacement heifers, bulls, and finishing herds
21:50 Why grass-finished takes longer (and tastes great)
22:33 Herd hierarchy: meet lead cow “Jose”
24:35 Output & how to buy (bulk, cuts, subscriptions, delivery)
25:27 Ethics & emotion: “no bad days” for the animals
27:21 Health: omega-3:6, CLA, inflammation & cancer context
33:28 Dan’s diet journey: plant-forward → quality red meat
35:03 Seed oils vs beef tallow: skincare & cooking
36:49 What tallow actually is (suet → render → whip)
38:48 Product demo: creams, cooking tallow, lip balm
40:29 How to use cooking tallow at home
41:07 Lip balm, respecting the whole animal
41:53 Where to buy & delivery routes
42:27 NS partnership shout-out
42:59 Final takeaway & gratitude
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