Organic Beef - Grass-fed or Grain Finished?

Grass-fed or Grain Finished?

As organic cattle approach market weight, there are two feeding methods that producers most commonly use to deliver beef products to their customers: Grass-Fed and Grain-Fed. In the grass-fed program, the cattle continue to eat certified organic grass right up to the time of slaughtering. The USDA is currently developing guidelines to define the term Grass-Fed, and it is expected to call for an all grass diet of at least 95%. Strictly grass-fed cattle tend to be leaner than grain-fed. Grain finishing produces cattle with a higher percentage of fat. All grains must be certified organic to ensure the integrity of the program.