Corn Fed vs. Grass Fed— What’s The Difference?

In the U.S., cattle spend the majority of their lives eating grass.  However, “corn fed” or “grain finished” beef is produced from cattle that spent the last four to six months of their lives on a feedlot, eating a mixture of grain, agricultural byproducts, and hay or forage.  Most cattle are raised this way, so if a package doesn’t state otherwise, consumers can assume that the beef was corn fed. 

If beef is labeled as being “grass fed” or “grass finished” it means that the cattle spent their whole lives eating grass or forage, although they may have been fed that grass at a feedlot.  Grass fed beef has a higher percentage of omega-3 fatty acids and CLAs (both types of good fat), so some consumers prefer grass fed beef for health reasons.  In addition, grass fed beef is leaner than corn fed beef, and grass fed beef has a more intense beef flavor.