Previously published on myRegence.com

Since my dad is a big time carnivore, I grew up hearing that corn fed beef was simply the best. By feeding cows corn, the meat becomes well marbled, the flavor richer and the meat more tender. But once I got my first taste of grass fed beef I started to wonder. Was grass-fed beef better than its corn-fed cousin?

Disease
Just after World War II, farmers began fattening their cows on high-calorie grain. This meant more cattle could be raised in smaller spaces in a quicker time span to feed the growing demand. But since cows normally eat grass, feeding cows corn and soybeans presents a problem. According to a recent article in Science Daily, researchers from Kansas State University, Manhattan, stated the addition of grain into a cow’s diet contributes to the presence of a certain type of E. coli. While most beef processors test for E. coli, some bacteria do manage to get through.

Lifestyle
Grass-fed cattle live their lives grazing on the farm. They’re free to roam, enjoy fresh air and the sunshine. To me that seems like a pretty good life. Corn-fed cattle on the other hand graze on grass for the first few months before they’re shipped off to feedlots where they are fattened on grains and confined to small enclosures. To reduce health problems, these cattle are usually treated with hormones and antibiotics.

Nutrition
Using my nutrition calculator from NutritionData.com, I compared 100 grams (about 3.5 ounces) of grass-fed steak to standard corn-fed steak. The corn-fed steak contained 193 calories, 8 grams of fat, 3 grams of saturated fat (15% of your RDA) and 58 milligrams of cholesterol. For the same size of steak, the grass-fed steak is 117 calories, 3 grams of fat, 1 gram of saturated fat, and 55 milligrams of cholesterol. As an added bonus, a recent study done by the Union of Concerned Scientists shows grass-fed beef has almost double the amount of Omega-3 (good fats) than beef fed a grain-based diet. So if you’re looking for a way to still eat beef but avoid extra fat, especially the saturated kind, perhaps grass-fed is for you.

Taste
When you take a bite of grass-fed beef for the first time, you’ll notice two things. One, the beef has a meatier flavor. Just as soil affects the flavor of wine, so does a cow’s diet affect the flavor of the steak. Two, it takes more time to chew. Because the cow gets more exercise, the meat fibers tend to be a little tougher. And because there’s less marbling, the steak isn’t as tender as one from a corn-fed cow.

Personally I’m opting for grass-fed whenever I can because I enjoy the flavor and I know the cow hasn’t been to a feedlot. If you’re curious about giving it a try, check out your local farmer’s market or grocery store. According to an article on NPR, over the last ten years the number of farmers selling grass-fed beef has risen from 50 to over a thousand. And the demand is continuing to rise. Sales are expected to increase by 20% in the next decade. Have trouble getting your hands on some grass-fed beef your neighborhood? Visit Eat Wild  or the American Grassfed Association where you can connect with local ranchers.



 Leave a Comment