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Grass-Fed vs. Grain-Fed Beef: What’s the Difference?

Shop Grass-Fed, Grain-Finished Beef Near You from AH Farms!

There’s no doubt you want the very best for your family. But with so many different words emphasized and promoted on a nutrition label, it can be difficult – and maybe even a bit overwhelming – to know the meaning behind it all and understand the history of your food before it arrived at your table.

While shopping for beef for sale near you, you’ll most likely come across two different phrases: grass-fed and grain-fed beef. These terms refer to how the cattle was fed during its lifetime.

This then begs the question: What’s the difference between the two? In this guide, we’ll compare grass-fed and grain-fed beef, and share exactly what these labels mean in terms of your meat. Once you’re more familiar with these two common terms, you’ll be able to confidently distinguish them and have a better understanding of how your food is made.

What’s more, you can enjoy grass-fed, grain-finished beef near you for a price you won’t find anywhere else, thanks to our nationwide meat delivery service at our family farm, AH Farms.

Understanding the Life of Cattle

Before we consider the diet of the cattle, it’s important to have a general idea of how the entire process works. Cattle are ruminants, meaning they graze for forages like grass and hay.

Typically, calves are born on pasture and remain there until they’re weaned. They are then able to freely roam and consume grass, as well as other plants found within their environment, until they are ready for finishing.

Beef can be finished in a variety of ways, including grass-fed or grain-fed. Once they reach a certain weight, they’re then processed and ready for grocery stores or consumers.

What Does Grass-Fed Mean?

When the package of your beef says grass-fed, this suggests that the cattle ate only grass during their lifetime.

Grass-fed beef is leaner and contains less marbling and fat. This makes a grass diet lower in calories and energy, which slows down the time it takes the cattle to reach the desired weight and finish. Because of this, you can expect grass-fed beef to cost more than grain-fed beef. Grass-fed beef is known to be lower in fat compared to strictly grain-fed.

What is Grain-Fed Beef?

Grain-fed cattle follow a diet of mostly grass, but are also fed supplemental grains made from soy or corn toward the end of their life. This is usually done to increase their weight. Grains contain more energy, enabling the cattle to grow at a much quicker rate.

A grain-fed diet gives the beef more marbling and white-colored fat, ultimately resulting in more flavor and tenderness.

How are They Similar?

Both grass-fed and grain-fed beef are packed with nutrients. Beef is a great source of several different vitamins, including B12, B3, and B6. It’s also high in protein and contains zinc, iron, and many other important nutrients your body needs.

Our All-Natural Beef at AH Farms

At AH Farms, the cattle on our Drexel, MO family farm are grass-fed, but grain-finished to provide you with verified all-natural, pasture-raised beef. Once our cattle are fed throughout their lives with grass, they are then finished with a grain-based diet. As opposed to the cattle being finished in small pens and eating chopped up hay and grains, our calves are fattened in large grass pens with hay bales for free eating. We also feed them a grain mix once a day.

At Our Kansas City local beef farm, sustainability is our top priority. To ensure our promise, we’ve obtained Verified Natural, BeefCARE, and Source and Age Verification by Where Food Comes From, a third-party organization.

Why grass-fed and grain-finished? Our production process allows for the most flavorful and tender meat possible, at a price-point that Missouri residents appreciate. And because we never compromise on quality, our beef has just the right amount of marbling and flavor you want for all your favorite recipes.

Enjoy Grass-Fed, Grain-Finished Beef from Our Family Farm in Cass County, MO!

It’s important to know where your food comes from, and finding grain-fed beef near you has never been more convenient. Thanks to our hassle-free meat delivery service, you can enjoy our grass-fed, grain-finished beef regardless of where you call home. With both delivery and shipping options, we can deliver all-natural beef to Cass County, MO and nationwide.

Skip the trip to the grocery store and meal prep like a pro with our meat delivery service. Whether you plan to make a meat sauce or tacos, our ground beef delivery can provide you with exactly how much the recipe calls for. Plus, you’ll be able to plan accordingly with your personal budget.

To shop our grass-fed, grain-finished beef, visit our online store. Here, you’ll have access to specialty cuts, steaks, and hamburger meat for sale at an affordable price. If you have any additional questions, give us a call at (816) 844-6590 or send us a message online.

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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