GRASS FED VS. GRAIN FED

Sheep are ruminant animals, which means they are designed to eat grass, not grain.

Grain-fed animals are traditionally raised in intensive feedlots where they are fed an unnatural diet based on corn or soy. They are often given hormones to grow faster as well as antibiotics to survive the unsanitary living conditions.

Ovation 100% grass-fed lambs contain less total fat than grain-fed stock, meaning gram per gram; grass fed lamb contains fewer calories. Grass-fed animals have huge health benefits over their grain-fed counterparts. High levels of essential vitamins and minerals, is just the start. Grass-fed meat contains up to five times more Omega 3s than grain-fed meat. Omega-3 fatty acids (generally associated with olive oil and fish) are essential for good health, especially for the heart and brain. Grass-fed meat is also known to have high levels of a good fat called Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), which is associated with reduced body fat and other health benefits. Studies have shown that CLA may help reduce the incidence of cancer¹. We also believe, that our grass-fed lamb just tastes so much better as well.

¹. Source: Beef and Lamb NZ.

HEALTH

Ovation lamb is prepared with our consumer health first and foremost in everything we do. All products are gluten free, and animals are raised without genetically engineered feed, antibiotics or added hormones.

GLUTEN FREE

The animals from which the product was derived have never been fed any wheat, rye, barley, or crossbreeds of these grains during their lifetime.

RAISED WITHOUT GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FEED

The animals from which the product was derived have never been fed any genetically engineered feed from birth to harvest.

RAISED WITHOUT ANTIBIOTICS

The animals from which the product was derived have never been administered antibiotics in any form from birth to harvest.

RAISED WITHOUT ADDED HORMONES

The animals from which the product was derived were raised without any added hormones or growth stimulants.

NUTRITION

Ovation lamb is a NUTRIENT DENSE FOOD. It provides good quality protein, the vital minerals iron and zinc; Vitamin D and the B-group of vitamins such as B12, niacin, thiamin and riboflavin.

Protein

A 3oz portion of lamb provides over 20grams of protein, well over a third of your daily needs.

Iron

Iron is vital to good health and to mental and physical well-being. Lamb is twice as rich in iron as pork, three times as rich as chicken and six times as rich as fish. Iron has three key functions in the body:

To carry oxygen around the body.
To provide the body with energy.
To ensure a healthy immune system.

The main type of iron in lamb (haem iron) is more effectively absorbed by the body than iron in plant foods (non-haem iron). As much as 23-25% of the iron in lamb is absorbed, while as little as 1-2% of iron in plant foods is absorbed.

Zinc

Zinc is a component of every living cell in the body. It is essential for the structure and function of over 50 enzymes. It is also important for growth and reproduction, night vision, digestion and appetite, sense of taste and smell, for maintaining the body’s immune system and for the healing process. Zinc is not widely distributed in foods, but lamb does have a high zinc content.

B Vitamins

B group vitamins regulate many chemical reactions necessary to maintain health. Some help to release energy in the body, some help to maintain good vision and healthy skin, while others are needed for the manufacture of red blood cells. Lamb is a major dietary source of vitamin B12 and good source of B vitamins: niacin; vitamin B6 (pyridoxine); vitamin B1 (thiamin); vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and biotin. Additionally one serving of lamb can give us half the Vitamin D we need each day. Ovation lamb offers a tasty alternative to vitamin and mineral supplements.

Nutrition Table

	Nutrient concentrations are given per 100g of the edible portion of the whole lean cut, excluding bone and waste.
	Rack Cap off Frenched	Shoulder	Leg	Shank	Saddle / Loin Chops	Sirloin / Rump Cap off	Loin / Backstrap	Flap
Energy (kJ)	611	640	503	509	591	505	500	749
Energy (kcal)	145	152	119	121	140	120	119	178
Protein (g)	20.6	19.7	20.9	22.1	20.0	21.7	21.5	21.7
Total Fat (g)	7.1	8.3	4.1	3.8	6.9	3.8	3.8	10.3
Saturated Fat (g)	3.1	2.8	1.4	1.3	2.8	1.3	1.2	4.0
Polyunsaturated Fat (g)	0.3	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.3	0.2	0.4
Omega 3 (g)	0.141	0.135	0.141	0.106	0.160	0.133	0.112	0.153
Monounsaturated Fat (g)	2.2	2.4	1.2	1.1	2.0	1.0	0.9	2.7
Cholesterol (mg)	61.9	55.6	64.3	64.6	66.2	65.3	65.6	58.0
Sodium (mg)	63	73	60	82	77	82	60	87
Iron (mg)	1.4	1.1	1.4	1.4	1.5	1.5	1.6	1.0
Zinc (mg)	2.2	3.6	3.3	2.9	2.7	3.3	2.1	3.2
Vitamin B12 (ug)	1.1	2.3	1.9	2.2	1.9	2.1	1.1	2.1
Vitamin D3 (ug)	0.09	0.17	0.01	0.02	0.05	0.02	0.30	0.03
Selenium (ug)	2.9	5.3	3.6	7.0	5.5	4.4	2.9	3.7
	EXCELLENT SOURCE OF PROTEIN: Each cut contains at least 10g/ serve.
	EXCELLENT SOURCE OF VITAMIN B12: Each cut contains at least 25% of the recommended daily intake for adults.
	SOURCE OF IRON: Each cut contains at least 10% of recommended daily intake for adults.
	SOURCE OF ZINC: Each cut contains at least 10% of recommended daily intake for adults.
	LOW SODIUM: Each cut contains less than 120mg /100gm.
	This nutrional information was obtained from research carried out by Massey University in New Zealand with the sample preparation and the analytical methods used based on accepted industry standards and overseas database requirements.