The Difference Between Commercially Produced Meat and Game Meat

Commercially produced meat typically comes from animals raised on farms using conventional agricultural practices. These animals, such as cows, pigs, and chickens, are often fed a controlled diet that may include grains, soy, and other feed, depending on the species.

The primary goal is to maximize growth and production efficiency, which often involves the use of growth hormones and antibiotics to prevent disease and promote faster growth.

For decades, due to the rising cost of corn, farmers have used factory seconds of big brand-named candy, cookies and other sweets, as well as used grain from breweries, citrus pulp, “cakes” left over from manufacturing soy sauce, peanut skins, “bread waste,” chocolate, Kool-Aid mix, meat and bone meal, poultry byproduct and dried and ground tissue of under decomposed fish to supplement cows’ diets.

For those conscious of where and what is in their food, this should be a real concern of commercially-bought meat.

Additionally, these animals are usually raised in confined environments, such as feedlots or barns, where they have limited space to roam.

Game Meat

Game meat, on the other hand, comes from wild animals that live in their natural habitats.

These animals are free to roam and feed on their natural diet, which typically includes grasses, herbs, and other vegetation.

Because they are not confined and are physically active, game animals generally have leaner bodies with less fat.

They also lack exposure to growth hormones, antibiotics, or other chemicals used in conventional farming. As a result, game meat is often considered more natural, with a unique flavor profile and a higher content of certain nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and minerals.

Venison is one of the most sustainable meat options

Sustainability is an important topic when considering the carbon footprint of meat.

While some claims about meat’s environmental impact may be exaggerated, it is generally agreed that factory-farmed meat is resource-intensive. Conversely, ruminants raised on regenerative pasture offer numerous benefits, including improved nutrient cycling, soil fertility, healthier topsoil, support for wildlife habitats, reduced resource intensity, and higher levels of beneficial nutrients like omega-3 and CLA. Venison, sourced from animals living in their natural environment, is among the most sustainable meat options available.

Venison and emotional well-being

Hunting requires you to go to where animals are. And where wild animals are, is where people aren’t. You must venture out into the woods, fields, marshlands, mountains and valleys to find game, away from houses, buildings, roads and electronics. One of the greatest rewards of hunting is the mental benefits of spending so much time outdoors. Evidence from over 140 studies conducted on millions of people in 20 countries has shown that spending time in nature lowers our stress levels, reduces blood pressure and heart rate and improves sleep. Further, nature serves as one of our most powerful restorative environments—a space that encourages recovery from our everyday stress and fatigue. People who spend time in green spaces have a reduced risk of developing Type II diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure

Key Differences

• Diet: Commercial meat animals are typically fed a controlled diet, often grain-based, while game animals eat a natural diet of grasses and wild vegetation.
• Environment: Commercially produced meat comes from animals raised in confined spaces, whereas game animals live in their natural environments with freedom to move.
• Fat Content: Game meat is generally leaner and lower in fat due to the animal’s active lifestyle, compared to the often fattier cuts of commercially produced meat.
• Nutrient Profile: Game meat tends to have higher levels of certain nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and fewer contaminants due to the absence of artificial growth enhancers and antibiotics.
• Flavour: Game meat often has a richer, more distinct flavor than commercially produced meat, which some consumers find more appealing