Grass Fed vs. Grain Fed Cattle

I come from a family of beef producers. So on Easter, when my family all gets together, farming is usually the topic at the dinner table. While I sat, listening to my Dad and Uncle, an interesting topic caught my ears.

The controversy of grain finished cattle compared to grass fattened cattle has been present for many years. U.S. Wellness Meats is a company that prides itself in grass fed cattle and the nutritional value it brings to the table. In this video, U.S. Wellness Meats talks about how much better grass-fed cattle is compared to grain finished cattle. 

Grain Fed Cattle

Grass finished cattle may offer added health benefits to consumers since the cattle are consuming their natural diet. But is producing only grass fed cattle possible?  Grass fed cattle take a lot before they reach a market ready point. Grain fed cattle are ready to be processed in as little as 14-19 months. Grass finished cattle can take anywhere from 16 to 24 months to reach this stage.

Another issue with grass fed cattle is the fact that there is not enough grass to produce enough cattle to feed the world. When cattle are finished in feedlots, grain resources are abundant and cattle are converting feed to muscle more efficiently. In addition to the shorter time it takes to finish the animal, it is a lot cheaper to feed the cattle grain.


Not only is it cheaper for the producer to raise grain finished cattle, it is also cheaper for the consumer to purchase. Most grass fed beef also has labels such as organic and antibiotic free labels on the product. This raises the price of the product. This decreases the number of people who will choose to pay for the product.

While grass fed cattle do offer nutritional benefits, we still need to raise grain fed cattle. To feed the world and better use our resources, we should raise both types of cattle. Each method of finishing the cattle has its advantages and disadvantages so it comes down to how the producer wants to operate.


Sources:
http://www.beefusa.org/uDocs/Feedlot%20finishing%20fact%20sheet%20FINAL_4%2026%2006.pdf
https://www.highlandcattleusa.org/content/Grain%20Finished%20Beef.pdf