Grass-Fed vs. Grain-Fed Beef: Is One Better for You?

These days it seems like everyone has an opinion on the taste and nutrition of their food. We’re not here to tell you what the best diet is. Beef has long been a major source of protein for people, so we’ll assume you’re here to learn more about the beef you eat. Because we raise 100% grass-fed beef, we want to explain the differences between grass-fed and grain-fed as we see them. It won’t surprise you that we favor 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef.

How the cattle are raised

Almost all calves start out free to roam and eat grass. At around 7 to 9 months, most move to feedlots. Large feedlots are called concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). There, cattle live in crowded pens and are fattened quickly on grain-based feed, usually made from corn or soybeans with small amounts of dried grass. This usually lasts a few months before slaughter.

It’s a common misconception that feedlot cattle eat 100% corn. Feed typically ranges from 0% to 50% corn. Too much corn can make cattle very sick, because their stomachs evolved to digest grass, not grain. Michael Pollan’s book The Omnivore’s Dilemma is a good read if you want to learn more.

Of course, nothing is ever simple. Feeding practices vary by region and by farmer. Not all grass-fed cattle are pasture-raised or even allowed outdoors. In the US, “grass-fed” can mean cattle ate mostly grass, and grass-fed beef in stores may have been finished on grain to fatten it before slaughter.

The differences

Vitamins and antioxidants

Beef in general is nutrient-dense. It has vitamins B3, B6, and B12, zinc, selenium, iron, vitamins D3 and K2, high-quality protein, creatine, and carnosine. Grain-fed beef has the same nutrients, but grass-fed beef has much higher levels of vitamins A and E (source) and more antioxidants (source).

Fat and calories

What cattle eat changes the taste, texture, and nutrient makeup of their beef, and it shows most in the fat (USDA data). Grass-fed beef is generally leaner, with less total fat than grain-fed beef, so gram for gram it has fewer calories (source).

Both contain monounsaturated fats, the same kind found in olive oil and avocados, which are linked to lower risk of heart disease and less inflammation (source).

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)

CLA is a fatty acid found in meat and dairy. Research suggests it may help reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer and may support weight loss (source, source). Grass-fed beef has more CLA than grain-fed.

Omega-3 and omega-6 fats

Grain-fed and grass-fed beef contain similar amounts of omega-6. Grass-fed beef can contain up to five times as much omega-3 (source). Other factors also affect the fat in beef, including the animal’s breed and age and the cut of meat.

Our take

We could go on about why we prefer grass-fed beef. We believe it’s better for the land and for your health. But in the end, the choice is yours. Not everyone thinks grass-fed tastes better or is worth the price, and those are fair considerations. Our advice is to try it and decide for yourself.

Thanks for reading. If you have questions, or want to buy from us, get in touch.