Beef is delicious, nutritious, and a great addition to any meal, but there are differences in grass-fed vs. grain-fed beef that can lead to preferences for one over the other. What the cattle are fed is only just the beginning.
Let’s discover all the differences!
Production Differences in Grass-Fed vs. Grain-Fed Beef
Grass-fed beef comes from cattle that were fed grass, and grain-fed beef comes from cattle that were fed grain. But when it comes to beef cattle production, things aren’t necessarily that simple, though.
If we break down the phases of the cattle lifecycle, you see that all calves spend the first 6-8 months of their life grazing with their mother cow before they are weaned.
After weaning there are two feeding paths for cattle.
After Weaning, Cattle are Sent One of Two Places –
- Either to a stocker/backgrounder where they eat more nutrient dense grasses to gain weight, or
- To a feedlot where they eat mostly grain to gain weight
That said, cattle that spend time at a stocker/backgrounder will still go to a feedlot at some point in their lives. This is to ‘finish’ the cattle or promote fat deposition (marbling) since cattle don’t deposit fat very efficiently without a grain-based diet.
Feedlot cattle still have access to grass most often in the form of hay. This is necessary because of the ruminant digestion system and its need for forage to keep rumen microbes in a balanced state (without forage there is overproduction of gases and bloating will occur which in severe cases can be fatal to cattle).
In a traditional feedlot system, cattle are fed free choice grains, typically corn and soybean-based rations, that have been formulated by a nutritionist to meet the needs of that specific group of cattle and facilitate weight gain.
The grains would be mixed together into a “total mixed ration” that was formulated by a nutritionist to meet the dietary needs of that specific group of cattle based on where they are in their life span (think younger calves are still trying to build muscle, but cattle close to being sent to harvest are no longer building muscle and fat deposition is the main goal). By “free choice,” I mean that the feed would be put out in the bunker and the entire group in the pen can go eat as much as they would like.
Are Grass-Fed Cows Only Fed Grass?
All cattle do eat grass during their lifetime, but when beef is labeled “grass-fed” that means they didn’t spend time in a traditional feedlot. Otherwise, grass-fed and grain-fed cattle eat the same diet until the feedlot stage.
So, if all calves are eating grass for the first 6-8 months of their lives and some go to a stocker/ backgrounder to eat more grass, then the 100 days spent in the feedlot stage is where we make the designation of whether beef will be considered grass-fed vs. grain-fed beef.
Pasture-raised would be defined as “grazing grass” for their entire life. So, this would be more of what the typical consumer pictures when they hear “grass-fed beef.”
Cattle have a very different digestive system than you and I do, and are considered ruminants because of their four chambered stomach.
Animals classified as ruminants rely on rumen microbes or bacteria in their digestive system to break down foods into usable nutrients. Ruminants and rumen microbes require forages (grass) to maintain a healthy digestive system, this is the exact reason that hay is offered free choice along with grain to cattle in a traditional feedlot system.
Grass-Fed vs. Pasture-Raised Beef
Now, if we consider cattle that were raised in a grass-fed system, the only difference would be that no free choice grains were fed during the feedlot stage.
Pasture-raised beef would be defined as “grazing grass” for their entire life. So, this would be more of what the typical consumer pictures when they hear grass-fed. Cattle are in a pasture eating grasses that are growing from the ground. This is far less common and comes with a much different flavor profile.
Grass-Fed vs. Corn-Fed Beef
Even this is not black and white as corn is considered a grass due to the way it grows, which means that if it is minimally processed (e.g., the whole plant is chopped including stalks and husk) it can be fed to cattle in a grass-fed system.
Regardless of the system cattle are being raised in—grass-fed or grain-fed—all cattle are fed grass for the entirety of their lives, despite not being labeled as grass-fed, they are just given grain supplements alongside the grass.
There are some flavor differences to consider with grass-fed vs. grain-fed beef.
Flavor Profile and Nutrition Differences: Does Grass-Fed Beef Taste Different?
While beef is delicious and nutritious providing high quality protein and 10 essential vitamins and minerals regardless of how it was raised, there can be flavor profile differences between grass-fed vs. grain-fed beef.
For most palates, grass-fed beef will have a stronger gamey flavor, while grain-fed beef is milder and buttery in flavor.
Both the type of grass being fed to cattle and the amount of time spent eating grass can influence the flavor profile.
For instance, cattle being fed chopped corn will have more similar flavor profiles to cattle in traditional grain-fed systems than cattle fed strictly pasture grasses. Additionally, cattle fed pasture grasses can experience changes in flavor profile if they are fed grains for 60-80 days prior to harvest.
Cattle that spend time at a stocker/backgrounder will still go to a feedlot at some point in their lives. This is to ‘finish’ the cattle or promote fat deposition (marbling) since cattle don’t deposit fat very efficiently without a grain-based diet.
How Fat Plays a Role in the Flavor Profile of Grass-Fed vs. Grain-Fed Beef
Knowing that when it comes to beef fat is what gives flavor (link to Quality Grades article), it’s no surprise that the differences are primarily a result of the fatty acid profile that is deposited specific to the production system.
- Grain-fed cattle deposit more monounsaturated fatty acids, which is the same fatty acid as those found in avocado and olive oil.
- Grass-fed cattle deposit more saturated fatty acids.
When it comes to nutrition however, these differences are small, and many cuts of both grain-fed and grass-fed beef meet the United States Department of Agriculture guidelines for lean beef cuts.
All beef consumption, regardless of production method, is considered equal in health benefits including a high-quality source of protein for muscle growth, iron for efficient oxygen transport, zinc for immune system support, and B vitamins for brain function.
No matter the type of beef you choose to eat know that you are fueling your body with many essential vitamins and nutrients!
The Cost Differences of Grass-Fed vs. Grain-Fed Beef
To align with the differences in production costs and time until cattle are harvest ready, there are differences in price of grass-fed vs. grain-fed beef.
Typically, you will see grass-fed beef sold at a premium as a result of the extra time needed to get cattle to market weight.
Talk to your sales consultant about what grass-fed options are available to you. If given the chance, sample grass-fed and grain-fed side by side to compare for yourself!
Article written by Kylie Philipps, the Business Development Manager at Buckhead Central Florida. She has been in the foodservice industry since 2017 and holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Animal Science, with a research focus in Meat Science. After talking to her, you will definitely walk away with more interesting meat knowledge than you started with!
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