Is Grain-Fed Beef More Lean or Fatter than Grass-Fed Beef?
Grain-fed beef generally contains less fat that grass-fed beef. While the lower fat content makes for healthier beef products, it can also have a negative affect on flavor and tenderness. Does this Spark an idea?
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Reasons
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Cows raised on grass tend to have less excess fat because they grow more slowly than cows raised on grain, according to the University of Florida, making them older and leaner at the time of slaughter. North Carolina State University adds that grain-fed cattle also receive growth hormones to fatten them up further.
Benefits
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Health-conscious consumers will find much to prefer in grass-fed beef over grain-fed beef, according to North Carolina State University. Grass-fed beef contains fewer calories and saturated fats than grain-fed beef, as well as less cholesterol and none of the antibiotics that help cows tolerate a grain diet.
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Disadvantages
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While the lower fat content in grass-fed beef offers health benefits, it does not necessarily produce tastier food. Some consumers dislike the distinctive flavor of grass-fed beef, while the reduced "marbling" from fat makes the beef dryer and less tender than grain-fed beef, according to North Carolina State University.
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References
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Comments
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carrieoliver
Nov 09, 2010
The answer to your headline is "No." Beef from grass-fed cattle is not necessarily leaner than beef from grain-fed cattle. The amount of fat (marbling, outside fat, etc.) in beef varies by herd & individual genetics w/in a herd, specific diet, husbandry, and other factors. In addition, older cattle are not necessarily leaner, and leaner beef is also not necessarily tougher (there is a very low correlation between marbling and tenderness). Finally, there is no such thing as a distinct flavor for grass-fed beef or for grain-fed beef. I could give you four grass-fed beefs and four grain-fed beefs and they'd all taste different from one another, depending on the farm, breed, diet, drug protocol, age at slaughter, and aging time and technique. Rather than rely on simple labels such as grass-fed or grain-fed, I encourage people to choose beef from ranches whose specific husbandry...
