Grass-Finished Beef Means Leaner and Healthier
You are what you eat. But you also benefit from what your beef cattle eats.
If you're reading this, you understand that healthy soil produces nutrient-rich produce, and pasture-raised chickens develop nourishing eggs. But what is it about eating grass and not grain that makes the best beef?
Nourishment from Grass-Finished vs. Grain-Finished Beef
We just loaded up a huge freezer full of grass-finished beef at The Honest Farmer, so it's time to share how this type of beef is different and what the benefits are to you.
1. The quality and nutritional density in the meat is higher
From comparing the meat of grain-finished and grass-finished cattle, researchers are finding differences between the two.
Grain-finished meat shows signs of inflammation and a buildup of uric acid in the muscle. It appears that "they are what they eat" - inflamed from a grain-rich diet. The meat of a grass-finished cow appears leaner without the biomarkers for inflammation.
Studies are also emerging about grass-finished beef is much higher in nutrients:
- 10 times more Omega 3 fatty acids, and fewer Omega 6
- 3 times the vitamin E
- 1.5 times the vitamin C
- Higher phytochemicals and beta carotene
The higher vitamin and healthy fat content of grass-finished beef has everything to do with their diet. When cattle has constant access to healthy grasses and herbaceous flowering plants (what some might call weeds), they're able to access what their bodies need, resulting in more nutrients in the beef.
2. The quality of life for cattle is better
Grain consumption can be really hard on a cow's gut. It can lead to an overproduction of lactic acid - a painful condition that can result in bloating and leaky gut.
A grass-finished cow maintains its natural diet, which is comfortable in the gut. Cattle have a stomach system that's perfectly designed to metabolize proteins from grasses and greens, making vitamins and proteins available to us. Plus with grazing and access to hay and sileage, the cattle enjoy more freedom of movement and a lifestyle that's more similar to the what they'd enjoy in nature.
It takes longer, so why do we do it?
Grass-finished takes longer than grain-finished because the cattle put on weight at a slower rate on a foraged diet. But taking the slower path means more nutrients in the meat we produce, and a healthier farm. It's worth the extra time and effort to get a more nutritious product.
What part of this is regenerative?
Strategic grazing is a key component in developing healthy soil. The cattle increase fertility in the soil through manure, which is transformed into plant-accessible nutrients through the fungal network and the work of beneficial insects. Livestock integration helps plants and vice versa.
Ultimately, our food is more nourishing and our soil increases in fertility with grass-finished beef - and that's at the very heart and soul of regenerative farming.