What is Grass-Fed Beef? A Complete Customer’s Guide

What is grass-fed beef, exactly? And is it worth buying over regular beef? With many meat labels on products nowadays, these are common, yet important questions you should ask. Cattle diet and how they’re raised significantly impact the food quality you eat. 

Learn more about grass-fed beef, how its cattle production works, and why it’s better for you.

What is Grass-Fed Beef? Understanding the Process & Benefits

Below is a breakdown of the meaning of grass-fed beef, the benefits it offers, and how it’s produced to your plate. 

How Grass-Fed Cows Are Raised

Grass-fed cattle are, as the name suggests, they eat a grass-based diet. The type of grass they eat varies depending on who is raising them and where they are located. They may feed on forage like fresh grasses, legumes, woody plants or shrubs, and dried hay. What cattle eat contributes to the flavors and meat quality that’s produced. 

Seeing the grass-fed beef label can be misleading as a customer, as it doesn’t always mean cattle only eat that. According to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), meat producers can still use a partial grass-fed label on their products if it’s less than 100%. However, they must include the total percentages on their label, such as 95% grass and 5% corn. 

Additional animal-raising claims, like “vegetarian-fed” and “grass-finished,” can also be confusing. Grass-finished cattle can eat grain during their lifetime, so the “grass-fed and finished” label claims can still be used. 

Whether you’re grocery shopping at the supermarket, online, or from a local farm, look for labels that show “100% grass-fed beef” to ensure you get the best meat quality. 

Nutrition Value of Grass-Fed Beef

Did you know that there are several health benefits to eating 100% grass-fed beef? They’re nutrient-rich with significantly higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acids (CLA). These nutrients help support your heart’s health, lower inflammation, and support brain function to reduce risks of heart disease and arthritis. 

100% grass-fed beef products are also great sources of antioxidants and vitamins. They often have vitamin E, vitamin A, and beta-carotene (a form of vitamin A). These support skin health, immune function, vision, reproduction, and cell health. 

Another health benefit is that 100% grass-fed beef doesn’t have added hormones and antibiotics. Meat producers often use hormones to fatten up cattle quickly, as it takes a longer time for them to grow naturally. Antibiotics may be used to treat sick cows and prevent infection, but can also be used to promote faster growth in regular beef. 

Studies show that these pose several health risks and side effects, including:

• Antibiotic-resistant bacteria (“superbugs”) that make common illnesses harder to cure
• Allergic reactions from antibiotic residues left in the meat
• Gut health issues from antibiotics that disrupt the natural gut microorganisms in livestock, which are in the meat you eat
• Cancer, reproductive, and developmental risks from residual hormones

Knowing what you put on your plate and how it gets there helps you buy better, cleaner beef.

The Difference Between Grass-Fed Beef and Regular Beef

Now that you know the answer to “What is grass-fed beef?” here are the key differences from regular beef and why they’re critical to understand.

Cattle Diet

Grain-fed and partially grass-fed cattle can feed on corn, soy, and even grain by-products. Cows don’t naturally eat high-calorie or processed grains, leading to potential digestive issues that can affect your food. 

Health Risks

Regular beef has higher levels of total and harmful saturated fats, which have been linked to heart disease risks. Meat producers use a grain-fed cattle diet because the higher fat content makes it sweeter,  juicier, and faster to harvest. While grass-fed beef is leaner with more earthy flavors, it doesn’t mean it’s not tender or as delicious. 

Cattle Production Impacts

There is a significant difference in beef quality if cattle are raised on a farm or a feedlot. Cows raised in dirt feedlots are often in confined, crowded spaces, causing several animal welfare and environmental issues. 

Cattle can become stressed, leading to them mounting each other abnormally, which causes physical trauma and exhaustion. It also makes them more susceptible to diseases from living in poor conditions. These overcrowded feedlots also create manure runoff into local waterways and air pollution in nearby communities from higher gas emissions. 

Even if regular beef is produced on a farm, its grazing acres may be treated with chemical fertilizers or herbicides that can cause cancer from heavy metals. When you’re grocery shopping, look for meat labels that say 100% grass-fed pasture-raised beef without the use of antibiotics or hormones. This step ensures you buy the cleanest and most ethically produced beef. 

Purchase 100% Grass-Fed Pasture-Raised Beef at Dry Creek Meats

At Dry Creek Meats, we take pride in humanely-raised cattle and transparency in our ranching practices. Our cows freely graze on our 23,000-acre ranch their entire lives with a 100% fresh grass-fed diet—no grains, antibiotics, hormones, or chemical treatments ever. We’re dedicated to responsibly raised cattle to give them a quality life and you cleaner, delicious beef.

We offer retail portions, beef shares, beef bundles, and build your own subscription boxes with custom cuts available.

Ready to bring better beef to your table?

Shop our grass-fed and finished beef online, for local Oklahoma City delivery, or pickup at our ranch and nearby vendors today! 

Grass-Fed Beef FAQs:

What Does Grass-Fed Beef Mean?

Grass-fed beef means that cattle were at least partially fed a grass-fed diet, such as fresh forage and woody plants. However, the total percentages must be clearly stated on the meat label. 

Are All Cows Grass-Fed?

No, not all cows are grass-fed by meat producers. Some may be fed a grain diet, such as corn and soy. 

Is Grass-Fed Beef Better?

Yes, grass-fed beef is better than regular, grain-fed beef. It’s a natural diet that cattle need for optimal health, which contributes to higher meat quality. 

What Are the Benefits of Grass-Fed Beef?

The benefits of grass-fed beef include a higher nutritional value over grain-fed cattle, ethical animal welfare from a natural diet, and reduced environmental impacts.

How Much is a Grass-Fed Cow?

The price of a whole grass-fed cow depends on its size, processing fees, and the rate per pound from the meat producer. According to the USDA, the average is $5.61 per pound of the carcass’s hanging weight without processing. This average cost increases to $7.75 per pound with processing, once the organs, hide, and head are removed.

Where Can I Find Grass-Fed Beef?

You can find grass-fed beef at your local grocery store, online, farmers’ markets, restaurants, and nearby ranches if available.