The word that actually matters
Grass finished beef, and why grass fed is not the same claim.
Almost every beef animal in America eats grass for most of its life. That is what makes grass fed a weak signal on its own. The question that separates one package from another is what happened at the end.
The last ninety days
Most cattle spend their final months in a feedlot on a grain ration, because grain puts weight on faster and marbles the meat more predictably. That period is called finishing, and it is where the two labels part company.
| Grass fed | Grass finished | |
|---|---|---|
| Most of life | On grass | On grass |
| Last few months | Usually grain, in a feedlot | On grass, on the same ground |
| Time to finish | Shorter | Longer |
| Yield | Higher | Lower |
| Who can claim it | Nearly everyone | Very few |
Why so few operations do it
It is slower and it yields less. An animal finished on grass takes longer to reach weight and hangs lighter than one finished on grain. That is the honest reason grass finished beef costs more, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something.
What we do
Our South Poll cattle finish on our own pasture. They do not leave, they do not get grain, and the animal that ends up in your freezer grazed the same ground its whole life. You can come and look at the herd doing it.
See the beefQuestions we get
What is the difference between grass fed and grass finished?
Grass fed describes most of the animal's life and applies to nearly all cattle. Grass finished describes the last few months, when most cattle are moved to a feedlot and switched to grain. Grass finished means that never happened.
Does grass finishing change the beef?
Yes. It is leaner, the fat is more yellow from beta carotene in the grass, and the flavor is stronger and more mineral. It also takes longer and yields less, which is why most operations do not do it.
Is grass finished beef healthier?
The research on fat composition favours grass finished beef, and the difference is real. We are careful not to oversell it, because the protein, iron, zinc and B12 in beef are much the same either way.
How can I tell if beef is really grass finished?
Ask where the animal spent its last ninety days. An operation that finishes on grass will answer immediately. One that does not will change the subject to how the cattle were raised.
Rather just ask somebody?
Call the ranch and you will get Justin or Ryley, not a call center.