Grass fed beef is when grass has been the only feed source consumed for the cow’s lifetime and is often considered a superior meat product. These animals are pasture-raised rather than being fed grain or grain by-products like conventional cattle.
So, what is the difference between grain fed and grass fed beef? The nutrients we obtain from meat depend on the diet of the animal. This means that the nutrient makeup of grain fed versus grass fed beef can be very different.
There are advantages and disadvantages of eating grass fed beef over grain fed. Advantages include being more ethical – it is better for the environment and the animals – and having more nutrients, less additives, and less fat. Disadvantages include the price of grass fed beef and the taste, which is more down to personal preference.
Advantages of grass fed beef
There are many advantages of consuming grass fed beef as opposed to grain fed. It is not only healthier for your body, but healthier for the environment and the animals.
Grass fed beef has a better fatty acid profile
Compared to grain fed options, grass fed beef has a larger amount of omega-3 fatty acids – in fact, it has five times more omega-3 than conventional beef, having a better ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fats.
Omega-3 fats can help to lower your risk of heart disease. It also has many other health benefits, such as helping with metabolic syndromes (such as diabetes), helping bone and joint health and inflammation, and lowering the chance of cancer.
Grass fed beef also has twice as much conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which can protect against type 2 diabetes, and other health issues. CLA also helps with weight reduction. Grass fed beef has less fat in general than grain fed alternatives.
Grass fed beef has a higher vitamin content
Beef, whether grain fed or grass fed, is a great source of nutrients. It is rich in vitamin B12, B3, and B6. It also contains high levels of iron, selenium, and zinc, as well as creatine and carnosine, which are important for your muscles and brain.
However, grass fed beef does have a higher vitamin content than grain fed options. It has much higher levels of vitamin E, which is good for your eyes, brain, and skin. Grass fed beef also has carotenoid precursors to vitamin A, such as beta carotene. Vitamin A is important for maintaining healthy vision, the immune system, and helping your organs work properly.
Grass fed beef has a higher level of antioxidants overall, which means it is healthier for your body.
You can avoid additives and bacteria
Grain fed cows are given many growth hormones in order to produce more meat, including steroids such as trenbolone acetate and oestradiol benzoate. Traces of these hormones can be found in your grain fed meat, which can be problematic if you consume a large amount. Many of these hormones are linked to cancer.
A study found that conventional beef, which is treated with antibiotics and hormones, had more bacteria than grass fed beef. It found that almost 20% of ground beef from conventionally raised cows had bacteria which was resistant to three or more classes of antibiotics, compared to 9% of grass fed ground beef.
More than 80% of conventional ground beef had two types of bacteria and nearly 20% of samples contained C. perfringens, which is the cause of a million cases of food poisoning a year. In comparison, grass fed beef contained far less bacteria.
Grass fed beef is more sustainable and ethical
Grain fed agriculture is more detrimental to the environment. With the production of grain itself, as well as the waste produced and its disposal, there are impacts on the environment such as higher emissions and pollution.
Grass fed beef is more sustainable as when cows are fed on pastures, their dung goes back to the ground and acts as a natural fertiliser. This also negates the need for synthetic fertiliser for the grass to grow.
It is not only more sustainable but more ethical for the animals. Cows that are grain fed are often kept in crowded lots which can raise their stress levels. They do not have the chance to graze and roam as nature intended. When cows are pasture raised, they can move around freely rather than being contained in a barn.
Disadvantages of grass fed beef
Despite its many benefits, there are some downsides to choosing grass fed beef over grain fed. This includes the cost and the flavour.
Grass fed beef is usually more expensive
Because of its sustainable and ethical nature, grass fed beef can often be more expensive than grain fed alternatives. While some may consider it an even trade-off for the health, environmental, and ethical benefits, it can be hard for others to budget for a more costly product.
You may not enjoy the taste
Grass fed beef has less fat, which means that some people find it less juicy and a bit more tough. Grain fed meat has a higher fat content that results in more marbling, making it juicier.
If you want meat that is more tender, look for grass fed beef that has been dry aged. The process pulls moisture out of the meat, and enzymes then begin to break it down, resulting in a more succulent and tender cut of beef.
It’s all down to personal preference, but some people may enjoy the taste of fattier, grain fed meat over grass fed beef.
If the advantages of grass fed beef interest you, choose Stockman Steaks for pasture raised, restaurant quality meat delivered to your door. Order now to support Australian farmers and human farming practices. You can build your own customised box.
