From: theanimalkeeper@yahoo.com
Sent: Thursday, August 03, 2006 3:11 PM
To: MarketingClaim
Subject: Grass Fed Marketing Claim



Dear USDA/AMS - Martin E. O'Conner,

I am writing in response to the proposed revision to the "Grass-fed" Marketing
rule.  In oder for "Grass-fed" products to be labeled grass-fed the animals
producing these products are assumed to have been fed green, fresh grass during
the nuturally occuring grazing season.  Feeding stored hay and other forage type
vegetation is acceptable during drought events and inclement weather when
pasture or rangeland is no longer producing.

This USDA "Grass-fed" rule must include statements that animals are required to
be consuming actively growing green vegetation for a majority of each year of
their life.  Anything resembling a feedlot environment is not acceptable.

Livestock producers have worked incredibly hard to create a true 100% grass-fed
product that is clean or free from hormones and antibiotics and the consumers of
these products have come to expect those standards.
 If government standards are neccesary to insure accuracy in labeling then their
rules should reflect the high standards that the true grass-fed industry has
already established.  Anything less is misleading to the consumer and I would
hope that is what you are trying to prevent.

So in summary the 99% rule is appropriate, but only in conjunction with the
expectation that the bulk of such an animal's nutrition will come from live,
green pasture where according to season, the animal shall predominanlty be
raised.

Thank you and I trust you will do the right thing.

Laurel Hoffman  

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