Grass-fed Beef vs Grain-fed Beef – Which is Better?

Grass fed Beef vs Grain fed Beef

The way a cow is fed can have a major effect on the nutrient composition of its beef. Consumers are becoming more conscious about what they eat and where their food comes from. As a result, more people are beginning to wonder about the real differences between grass-fed and grain-fed beef.

Grass Fed beef

Grass fed beef cattle feed on …. you guessed it, grass (as well as a mixture of other forage such as thistles)! The general consensus is that grass fed beef is healthier for you and the main reasons for this belief are that there are higher levels of omega-3 acids as well as fewer calories per pound. Demand for grass fed beef has seen a large increase over the last number of years because of these health benefits. Many people advocate grass fed beef as the ONLY option because it is healthier and viewed as a more humane process.

One of the biggest reasons that many people believe grass fed beef is superior to grain fed is because a grain-based diet is not a species-appropriate diet. A lot of people question how ethical it is to feed cattle food which causes them to get sick. Grain fed cattle can develop digestive issues and this can lead to them becoming more likely to suffer from bacterial contamination. Cattle confined to feedyards are often given hormones, antibiotics and other additives to maximize the weight of the animal. Confined animals also tend to be more stressed than free range cattle. 

Grass-fed cows on the other-hand spend the vast majority of their days eating grass, a far more natural diet for cattle. We here at TX BAR Grassfed Cattle Company believe that grass fed beef is far better for the animal. It means they can graze on pasture all day and move around at their own free will, not confined by cramped conditions!

For thousands of years the beef people ate came from cattle that roamed free and ate grass .As previously mentioned, grass fed cattle will have a much more natural diet. This means they are not as prone to infection or illness in comparison to grain fed cattle and are much less likely to need antibiotic treatment.

By opting to choose grass fed beef, you are showing your support for small farms who raise their cows in a humane and more natural way.

Grain Fed Beef

Grain fed beef is common in countries where beef is mass-produced. Grain fed beef can be lower in fat depending on the feeding schedule and how much exercise the cow is engaging in. Generally, grain fed beef is cheaper to purchase in a supermarket compared to its grass fed counterpart. A diet that contains grain fed beef would be more beneficial than one that doesn’t include beef. If cash is tight, grain fed beef can be a great alternative to grass fed beef!

What Vitamins and Minerals are in Beef?

Beef is packed with vitamin B12, B3, and B6. It’s also rich in highly bioavailable iron, selenium, and zinc. In fact, meat contains almost every nutrient that you need to survive. However, grass-fed beef generally contains higher amounts of certain nutrients.

Compared with grain-fed beef, grass-fed is much higher in the following vitamins:

• Vitamin A. Grass-fed beef contains carotenoid precursors to vitamin A, such as beta carotene.
• Vitamin E. This antioxidant sits in your cell membranes and protects them from oxidation.

We hope that this blog post provided you with a deeper understanding when it comes to Grass Fed Beef vs Grain Fed Beef. We here at TX BAR Grassfed believe that grass fed beef is not only healthier for you and is of a higher quality, but it is also more humane.

Get in touch if you would are interested in the best quality of grass-fed beef that North California has to offer and want to put these tips into practice.