What is the difference between our Grass-Fed Beef and our Grain Finished Beef?
Grass-fed indicates that cattle have consumed grass for much of their life.
Grass-fed beef is beef that has been produced from cows that have been fed a diet consisting primarily of grass, hay, and other forage throughout their lives. This is in contrast to grain-finished beef, which is produced from cows that have been fed a diet consisting primarily of grains, such as corn, soy, and wheat, in the final months of their lives.
There are a few key differences between grass-fed and grain-finished beef:
Nutritional content: Grass-fed beef tends to be leaner and have a higher content of certain nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, compared to grain-finished beef. Grain-finished beef, on the other hand, tends to be higher in total fat and saturated fat.
Flavor and texture: Grass-fed beef tends to have a more robust, earthy flavor and may be slightly tougher than grain-finished beef. This is because the cows are allowed to graze and exercise more, which can result in more muscle development and a leaner muscle structure.
Environmental impact: Grass-fed beef production has a lower environmental impact compared to grain-finished beef production. This is because the cows are not fed a diet consisting of grains, which require more water, fertilizer, and energy to produce.
Animal welfare: Some people prefer grass-fed beef because the cows are allowed to graze and have more access to pasture, which may be seen as a more humane way to raise animals.
Nearly all of the research comparing grain-fed to grass-fed beef hinges on fats, what scientists call lipids. . . beef from animals that never ate anything but grass is consistently lower in overall fat and saturated fat. While cholesterol levels are constant no matter the feeding regiment, grass-fed beef has a better balance of those fatty acids, such as stearic acid, that do not raise cholesterol."
-- Lynne Curry, Pure Beef
Our Grass-fed steers are supplemented milk as calves and are pastured at the age of 8-10 weeks after they have been weaned off milk. They then enjoy the freedom of the pasture and enjoy the next year and a half consuming our custom blend of Wisconsin wild grasses.
Grain-finished beef is known for marbling and tenderness because feeding our steers grain helps them gain weight more quickly and reliably and because grains tend to produce a milder steak flavor over a beefier grass-fed animal. Our pasture-raised, grain-finished steers from Lutz Family Farms live healthy and enjoyable lives and produce tasty, nutrient-laden beef.
The choice between Grass-Fed vs. Grain-Finished can be both a financial or a health-conscious decision. Fat sometimes gets a bad wrap, however, it is the quality of the fat that matters. Much can be done in the processing of the meat to ensure quality ratios of fat to meat. Tallow or fat is a source of CLA or conjugated-linoleic acid - a fatty acid which studies have shown to help in increasing fat loss. It’s rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K, which are excellent for your skin.
We have a custom ratio that we believe delivers the healthy balance of flavor and fatty acids.
Tallow is an excellent source of niacin, vitamins B6, B12, K2, selenium, iron, phosphorus, potassium and riboflavin. Grass-fed beef tallow contains high ratio of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) which is a cancer-resistant agent. Contrary to the popular conception, tallow is good for health as tallow fat is similar to the fat/muscles in the heart. Recent studies have shown that human beings need at least 50% of saturated fats like tallow and lard to keep the heart pumping hard and healthy. Tallow from pasture-raised cows also contains a small amount of Vitamin D, similar to lard. source
In addition to health, flavor, and price - we take into account the quality of life of our animals. We want every minute they spend on our farm to be free from stress & disease Quality starts with relationship and stewardship. We value our animals and we value our customers. If you are not satisfied with our beef in any way, we will buy it back from you!