Grass vs. Grain Fed Beef | What to know and helpful breakdowns

This is one of my favorite posts to be writing for you all! Are you seeing labels in the store that read grass fed/finished beef? I know I have been seeing this more and more but what does that mean?? Well I am here to help! 

Grass-fed Beef: 

This terms applies to beef that is raised on continuous access to pasture and is NOT fed grain at anytime during its life. Because these animals are not on grain they are a leaner animal and give you leaner ground beef and steak cuts. 

With our Albertz Acres beef they are rationally grazed throughout their life and grown with humane practices. We believe that if an animal lives low stress life and is loved by those who raise it that translates into the quality of the meat. Our beef also does not receive any steroids or supplements. 

Grain- Fed and Finished Beef: 

Conventional beef is fed grain. There are some that are on pasture and some that are in the feedlot. For beef to be grain-fed or grain-finished it is fed grain, roughage and supplements the last 120-200 days of life to get a marble or fat on the beef before butchering. 

The biggest health concern spoken about with grain-fed beef is the level of toxin exposure they get from their feed. There are a lot of pesticides and herbicides used in cattle feed especially with the large amounts of corn and soy in the feed. 

I’m sure if you have looked into chemicals in our food you have heard of the infamous glyphosate. Unfortunately in studies when meat was tested they found more chemicals in grain fed beef than any other beef available on the market. Glyphosate can cause damage to our digestive tract and impairs the human immune system. 

Nutritional Difference between the two: 

This is the most talked about difference in why are you choosing the grass-fed vs conventional grain. So here are few of the biggest nutritional differences between the two: 

Grass-fed is fewer calories and has less fat. It also contains more omega-3 fatty acids and less omega-6 fatty acids. It also is richer in vitamins and minerals such as E, B12, and B6 

Vitamin E is important for vision, reproductive, and skin health. 

Vitamin B12 is important for energy and cell health!

Omega 3 vs Omega 6 fatty acids: 

First let’s dive into Omega-3 fatty acids. I feel like everyone has heard about these and heard they are the “healthy fats” and they are! Omega-3’s are anti-inflammatory and benefits your heart, brain, and metabolism. These are the fatty acids found in fish and seeds like chia and flax. 

While Omega-6 fatty acids are found ABUNDANTLY in most peoples diets today. These are the fatty acids that provide energy to the body and found in dairy and eggs. These tend to be PRO-inflamation fatty acids and not recommended for over consumption. 

While I am a huge fan and advocate of grass-fed and finished beef it is really dependent on the family which is best. I know it can be super overwhelming as you do research into food for your family. If you have any questions on our beef or our practices I encourage you to reach out! We love to talk to people about it because we are passionate and want to help others find a passion for it. 

 

Thank you friends for visiting and reading a little bit about our passions at Albertz Acres. See you next time! 

Jena