Pasture-Raised vs. Grass-Fed vs. Organic Beef: What’s the Difference?
Key takeaways:
Shopping for meat can be confusing because of all the different labels on beef products. These labels refer to what the cow was fed before being processed for meat.
Pasture-raised beef refers to cattle that are fed at least 120 days of the year on grass. Grass-fed beef means the cattle spent their entire lives eating grasses or hay once weaned.
Grass-fed, pasture-raised, and grain-fed beef can all be organic. Organic means the cows ate organic feed and were not given antibiotics or hormones.
With so many different beef labels in the grocery store, shopping for meat can get tricky.
Beef labels are designed to help you understand what the cattle ate before they were processed for meat. Cows may be fed grain, grass, or a combination of both. To help you understand what you’re consuming, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) monitors, regulates, and approves the labels on the meat you find in your grocery store.
So how do you know what each label really means? And what’s the difference between grass-fed, pasture-raised, and organic beef, anyway?
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What’s the difference between pasture-raised vs. grass-fed beef?
The difference between pasture-raised and grass-fed beef is how much time the cattle spent eating grass. With pasture-raised beef, cows spend at least 120 days outside eating grass. The rest of the time, they may be fed grain. On the other hand, grass-fed beef cattle eat only grasses or forages (like hay) once they’re old enough to eat grass.
What else should you know about pasture-raised beef?
Pasture-raised means that the animals should have access to the outdoors for at least 120 days per year. The label must include language on what the term “pasture-raised” means in each case, since it can vary from farm to farm. Keep in mind that this label doesn’t mean the animal only ate grass or didn’t get antibiotics or hormones.
What else does grass-fed mean?
According to the USDA’s guidelines, beef products cannot be labeled as “grass-fed” unless the animal was fed only grass or forage after weaning and was never in a feedlot. However, beef labeled “grass-fed” and “grass-finished” don’t have strongly enforced regulations.
If you are looking for beef from cattle that have definitely just been fed grass, look for labels like one from the American Grassfed Association. This requires that animals were:
Fed a lifetime diet of 100% forage
Raised on pasture, not in confinement
Never treated with added hormones or antibiotics
What about organic vs. grass-fed beef?
The biggest difference between organic and grass-fed beef is what the label means. Organic beef refers to the quality of what cattle were fed rather than the type of food they ate. Both grass-fed and grain-fed beef can be organic.
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Organic beef is one of the most standardized and regulated labels. When beef has the “USDA Organic Seal” it means that the cattle must be:
Fed 100% organic feed and forage (which can include grains)
Raised on certified organic land
Raised in conditions that include their natural behaviors (like being allowed year-round access to the outdoors, shelter, and space for exercise)
Produced without genetic engineering
Raised per animal health and welfare standards
Never given antibiotics or hormones
Organic beef can be fed grains (so long as they are organic). So if you’re looking for grass-fed beef, you’ll need more than just this label.
Is organic beef worth the extra cost?
Organic beef can be quite a bit more expensive than conventional beef — up to 70% more in some situations.
One reason for the higher cost is that cows raised on pasture take longer to become full-grown than those raised on grain. This translates to increased costs passed on to the consumer. The demand for organic beef may be higher than the supply, which can also raise the price.
Paying more for organic or grass-fed meat depends on your priorities and situation. For example, if your priority is animal welfare, you may have more of a reason to consider grass-fed beef over conventional.
Is grass-fed beef healthier?
Some studies have shown that 100% grass-fed cattle can have slightly higher amounts of antioxidants, less fat, and higher omega-3 fatty acids, which may have some health benefits. But the levels of omega-3 fatty acids are still much less than other food sources — like salmon or other fatty fish.
There is also some evidence that antibiotics used in animal food can lead to antibiotic resistance in people. Grass-fed beef may be less likely to have antibiotic-resistant bacteria than conventionally raised beef.
So while grass-fed beef may be slightly healthier for you, more studies need to be done to see the real benefits. But health organizations like the American Heart Association recommend limiting the amount of red meat in your diet in general.
The bottom line
The many different beef labels can make shopping for meat confusing. Grass-fed beef cows were raised eating all grass their whole lives once they were weaned. Pasture-raised beef, on the other hand, means the cattle had access to grass at least 120 days each year.
Any type of beef can be organic. Beef that’s organic doesn’t contain antibiotics or hormones, among other requirements.
It’s unclear whether grass-fed beef is healthier based on existing research. But it may be best to limit how much red meat (including beef) you eat in general.
Why trust our experts?
References
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American Heart Association. (2021). Picking healthy proteins.
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Consumer Reports. (2015). The cost of organic food.
Consumer Reports. (2015). Why grass-fed beef costs more.
Daley, C. A., et al. (2010). A review of fatty acid profiles and antioxidant content in grass-fed and grain-fed beef. Nutrition Journal.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (n.d.). FAQ.
Food Safety and Inspection Service. (2019). Food Safety and Inspection Service labeling guideline on documentation needed to substantiate animal raising claims for label submission. Federal Register.
Food Safety and Inspection Service. (2020). Inspection of meat products. U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Lawler, M. (2017). What meat labels like ‘organic’ and ‘grass fed’ actually mean – and whether you should care. Certified Humane.
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Monaco, E. (2019). What does ‘grass-fed’ really mean (and who decides?). Organic Authority.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2023). 7 things to know about omega-3 fatty acids.
Rock, A. (2015). How safe is your ground beef? Consumer Reports.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2013). Organic livestock requirements.
