WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE
GRASS FINISHED VS GRAIN FINISHED
1. How are they both raised
Grass-fed:
Have the privilege of living out life in an open pasture until the day they are harvested.
Grain-fed:
After being weaned off their mothers, they are often placed in a concentrated feedlot environment for the rest of their lives. Some do get to be on open pasture for 4-6 months but are moved to a feedlot for about the last 5 months before harvest.
Grass-fed:
Get to forage and graze in a fresh pasture as they naturally would in the wild.
Grain-fed:
Are fed a high-energy feed mixture consisting of corn, soy and other grains. The idea is for the cows to gain weight and fatten up quickly before they are harvested.
2. What do they both eat?
3. What's the difference in nutrition?
Grass-fed:
-LOWER fat %
-HIGHER levels of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are associated with decreased risk of heart disease
-HIGHER levels of Niacin (a form of vitamin B3) which promotes a healthy digestive system, nervous system, and skin
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Grain-fed:
-HIGH fat %
-LOW in alpha-tocopherol (a vitamin E precursor that is known for its anti-oxidant properties)
-VERY HIGH Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio. The American Medical Association says that a healthy Omega-6 to Omega-3 fatty acids ratio is 4-1. Grain-fed beef can range from 35-1 to 55-1!