Grains are the fruit of grass plants. Is there a scientific explanation for why the two are separated in lifestock feed advertising or is it just marketing?
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Grass fed typically means they are grazing I pastures, or being fed hay or silage. Grain fed means they are eating corn and stuff from troughs. The reason they are separated is because the fat content and flavor of the beef will be very different between the too. Grass fed beef will be leaner and earthier tasting. Grain fed will be fattier, and less earthy/minerals.
You will also see stuff like Grass fed, grain finished. Where they spend time in pastures, but then spend the last few months eating grains and other stuff. This builds a healthy beef but then cleans out the earthy flavor, which some don’t like.
Grass is primarily cellulose. It’s difficult for most animals to break down into usable nutrients, but ruminants, like cows, have multiple stomachs that act as fermentors/bioreactors, where specialized bacteria break down cellulose in a way that provides nutrition for the cow.
Grain is primarily carbohydrate and protein, which is why it’s sought after by animals that lack ruminant guts.
When cows are fed on primarily grass, it means a) they’re usually out wandering around a pasture and b) they’re eating their typical diet. This tends to produce lean meat and mean that the cows weren’t primarily crammed in a feedlot.
When cows are fed on primarily grain, the energy-density of their diet is much higher, and it takes much less effort for them to break down, so they tend to put on more fat. “Grain-fed” typically means they were raised on a mixed diet and “finished” on grain (fed a primarily grain-based, energy-dense diet toward the end of their lives), which results in fattier, marbled cuts of meat that may be more flavorful/tender.
Grass is primarily cellulose. It’s difficult for most animals to break down into usable nutrients, but ruminants, like cows, have multiple stomachs that act as fermentors/bioreactors, where specialized bacteria break down cellulose in a way that provides nutrition for the cow.
Grain is primarily carbohydrate and protein, which is why it’s sought after by animals that lack ruminant guts.
When cows are fed on primarily grass, it means a) they’re usually out wandering around a pasture and b) they’re eating their typical diet. This tends to produce lean meat and mean that the cows weren’t primarily crammed in a feedlot.
When cows are fed on primarily grain, the energy-density of their diet is much higher, and it takes much less effort for them to break down, so they tend to put on more fat. “Grain-fed” typically means they were raised on a mixed diet and “finished” on grain (fed a primarily grain-based, energy-dense diet toward the end of their lives), which results in fattier, marbled cuts of meat that may be more flavorful/tender.
Grass is primarily cellulose. It’s difficult for most animals to break down into usable nutrients, but ruminants, like cows, have multiple stomachs that act as fermentors/bioreactors, where specialized bacteria break down cellulose in a way that provides nutrition for the cow.
Grain is primarily carbohydrate and protein, which is why it’s sought after by animals that lack ruminant guts.
When cows are fed on primarily grass, it means a) they’re usually out wandering around a pasture and b) they’re eating their typical diet. This tends to produce lean meat and mean that the cows weren’t primarily crammed in a feedlot.
When cows are fed on primarily grain, the energy-density of their diet is much higher, and it takes much less effort for them to break down, so they tend to put on more fat. “Grain-fed” typically means they were raised on a mixed diet and “finished” on grain (fed a primarily grain-based, energy-dense diet toward the end of their lives), which results in fattier, marbled cuts of meat that may be more flavorful/tender.
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