Grass-Fed vs Grass-Finished Beef and Lamb

There are so many descriptions written on meat packaging, whether beef or lamb. Two of the most common words include grass-fed and grass-finished. While they seem similar, they aren’t the same thing. 

Whether you care deeply about the quality of your meat or want to know what you’re ingesting, it’s valuable to know what you’re buying. Read on to learn more about the differences between each descriptor, which is better, and other helpful details. 

What Does Grass-Fed Mean?

If you see the label grass-fed on meat at the grocery store, it’s natural to assume the cow or lamb grew up eating grass their entire life. While that’s partially true, there is often information left out of the label. They are not required to have their entire diet be grass - instead, only part of their life may include enjoying grass.

Typically, grass-fed cows and lambs begin their life eating grass, and then it’s supplemented with the following:

  • Grain-feed

  • Grain

  • Corn

These tend to make the cows and lambs fatter than a full grass diet. Many grass-fed cows and lambs spend time outdoors at the beginning of their life. They are then often placed amongst grain feeds toward the last months of their lives to ensure they are as fat as possible before they go into processing.

Pros and Cons

As with any product, there are pros and cons to the ways they are raised. There are some benefits to buying grass-fed beef and lamb.

Here are some of the pros of enjoying grass-fed beef and lamb:

  • Contains vital nutrients like protein, iron, and Vitamin B

  • More affordable  

  • Some iterations eat more grass than others

  • Fattier

There are solid pros to the protein. On the other hand, there are also some significant cons to consider:

  • Grain can mess with the cow’s acidity levels

  • Cows and lambs can be raised in stressful environments 

  • Can be fed hormones in addition to the grass

These can be upsetting to the body. Of course, it’s vital to note not all grass-fed meats are the same. Some allow their animals to eat quality products throughout their life. Before buying beef or lamb, research the company thoroughly.

What Does Grass-Finished Mean?

Grass-finished completes the picture. If you see the label grass-finished, it means they grew up eating grass throughout their lives. They began eating grass and continued enjoying the plant until the last moments of their lives. It also typically means they were outdoors more than grass-fed cows and lambs.

Grass-fed cows and lambs are typically:

  • Leaner

  • Healthier 

Grass-fed throughout life is better for the animals and the people.  It’s easy to be confused by grass on the package of a meat product, especially one as common as beef or lamb. If you care about the quality of what the animals eat, look for “finished” at the end of the description for the optimal diet. 

Pros and Cons

Just like there are pros to grass-fed beef and lamb, there are also benefits to grass-finished beef and lamb. Since the creatures grow up and go through their entire lives enjoying grass, there are ample pros to enjoy when you choose to invest in the more natural products.

Here are the benefits of grass-finished beef and lamb:

One of the most significant cons is that grass-finished beef and lamb are more expensive than the cheaper grass-fed beef and lamb options. You will have to fork over more money, but it’s well worth it for the quality of protein you’re getting. 

What Is Better, Grass-Fed or Grass-Finished?

There is an ongoing debate between grass-fed and grass-finished beef and lamb. Many don’t want to pay a higher price point for grass-finished beef and lamb, especially since the products share most of the same nutrients. While grass-fed might be a little fattier, much of the taste is the same. Which is better for your kitchen?

We recommend investing in quality grass-finished beef and lamb for the following reasons:

  • Lower risk of ingesting hormones

  • Better for animals and people

  • Higher quality

  • More requirements in terms of processing

  • Leaner product 

  • More nutrients

Grass-finished beef indeed costs more than most grass-fed beef and lamb options. It also tends to be lower in calories per serving and provides more omega-3 fatty acids when taking a bite. Grain-fed could taste better because of the thicker swirls of fat, so it’s ideal if you want a creamy, fatty beef or lamb product.

Why is 100% Grass-Fed or Finished Meat More Expensive?

Investing in 100% grass-fed or finished meat is more expensive, but what’s the reason behind this cost increase? There are several reasons why this version of lamb or beef is much pricier than counterparts that ingest grain during their lifespan.

This version of meat is more expensive for the following reasons:

  • It takes longer to produce

  • Less infrastructure

  • Needs more land and labor

  • Higher quality

These work together to make a meat product with a higher price point. If you want a piece of meat completely raised on grass, it’s vital to pay slightly more for the end product. Ultimately, it’s up to you to determine if grass-finished beef fits into your protein budget. There are ample quality wagyu grass-fed selections.

Where Can You Locate Quality Meat?

Most grocery stores and butchers around you will have a variety of beef and lamb products. Unfortunately, many only carry grass-fed, and you don’t always know whether or not the meat is also grass-finished. It’s a struggle to find a quality protein where you’re confident in the source and what the animal grew up eating.

For the best quality beef and lamb delivered to your front door, consider shopping at Kolikof Caviar & Gourmet. The protein is sourced from the best locations and will arrive cold and ready to cook right when you open the box. You can also add accompaniments like black truffles, morel mushroom sauce, and latkes to your basket to have a full meal delivered to your doorstep. 

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