The Huge Difference Between "Grass-Fed" & "Grass-Fed and Finished"

When exploring options for high-quality beef or beef byproducts like tallow, you may come across terms like "grass-fed" and "grass-fed and finished." Though they may sound similar, these terms refer to distinct practices in cattle raising, especially in their diets and how they impact the final product.

Grass-Fed Cows

What they eat?

• Diet Throughout Life: Grass-fed cows primarily consume a diet of grass for most of their lives. They graze on pastures and benefit from a more natural diet compared to conventional grain-fed cows.
• Diet at the End of Life: However, towards the end of their lives, many grass-fed cows are often supplemented with grains such as corn, soy, or other high-calorie feeds. This practice is known as "grain finishing."

Why Grain Finishing?

• Weight Gain: The main purpose of grain finishing is to rapidly increase the cow’s weight and fat marbling in the meat, which can make the beef taste more tender and flavorful.
• Economic Efficiency: Grain finishing allows farmers to bring cows to market weight more quickly and cost-effectively compared to maintaining a purely grass-based diet throughout the cow’s life.

Grain finishing allows cows to gain substantial weight in a relatively short period, typically adding 250 to 450 pounds to their final weight.

Implications of Grain Finishing:

• Nutritional Impact: While grass-fed beef is generally more nutritious than conventionally raised beef, grain finishing can reduce some of the nutritional benefits. The introduction of grains can alter the fat composition, decreasing the levels of healthy omega-3 fatty acids and CLA (conjugated linoleic acid).
• Quality Variance: The nutritional content and health benefits of the meat can vary depending on the duration and intensity of grain finishing.

Grass-Fed and Finished Cows

What they eat?

• Diet Throughout Life: Grass-fed and finished cows are raised on a diet consisting entirely of grass and forage from start to finish. They are never supplemented with grains or other high-calorie feeds.
• Consistent Grazing: These cows graze on pasture throughout their lives, ensuring that their diet remains natural and unchanged.

Why Grass-Finished?

• Consistent Nutrition: By maintaining a consistent grass diet, grass-fed and finished cows offer meat that retains the full spectrum of nutritional benefits associated with grass feeding.
• Natural Growth: These cows grow at a natural pace, without the rapid weight gain associated with grain finishing, leading to leaner meat with distinct flavors.

Implications of Grass-Finishing:

• Nutritional Superiority: Meat from grass-fed and finished cows has higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, CLA, vitamins A and E, and other beneficial nutrients. The absence of grains ensures the nutritional integrity of the beef.
• Environmental Benefits: Grass-fed and finished practices promote sustainable and regenerative farming methods, which can improve soil health, enhance biodiversity, and reduce the overall environmental impact.

Conclusion

Choosing between grass-fed and grass-fed and finished beef products comes down to understanding the differences in their diets and the implications for nutrition and sustainability. While both options are generally healthier than conventional grain-fed beef, grass-fed and finished beef offers superior nutritional benefits and supports more sustainable farming practices.

By opting for products made from grass-fed and finished cows, you are making a choice that benefits your health, supports animal welfare, and promotes environmental sustainability. Whether it's the meat you consume or the beef tallow in your skincare products, the quality and purity of grass-fed and finished ingredients are unmatched.