Finished beef is a term used in the cattle and beef industry to describe beef from cattle that have completed the final stage of feeding and growth before slaughter. This finishing stage has important implications for the nutritional profile, flavor, tenderness, and overall eating quality of the beef you buy. But what exactly does “finished” mean when it comes to beef cattle? This in-depth guide will provide a clear understanding of finished beef and how different finishing methods impact the meat you eat.
An Overview of Beef Cattle Production
To understand finished beef it helps to first look at the typical life cycle and feeding stages of conventional beef cattle
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Calves are born and nurse on their mothers’ milk for the first 6-10 months of life. This is known as the cow-calf stage.
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After weaning, young cattle enter the stocker/backgrounding stage where they graze on pasture or eat feed like grass and hay to grow. This phase lasts 6-12 months.
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Once cattle reach the target weight of 650-850 lbs, they enter the feedlot for finishing. This lasts 4-6 months on average
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Finishing prepares cattle for slaughter by optimizing muscle growth and fat development for better quality beef.
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The diet during the finishing phase determines whether beef is considered “grain-finished” or “grass-finished”
So in beef production, the term “finished” refers specifically to the feeding method used during the final months before harvest. This finishing diet impacts the qualities of the final product we buy as beef.
What is Grass-Finished Beef?
Grass-finished beef comes from cattle that were fed a 100% forage diet during the finishing stage, with no additional grains. Forage refers to grass pastures for grazing or cut grass like hay fed as a supplement.
Some key facts about grass-finished beef:
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Cattle remain on a diet of grasses, legumes, and pasture from birth until harvest. No grain is ever fed.
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Takes a longer finishing period of 180 days or more to reach target weight and fat cover.
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Produces leaner beef with a different fatty acid profile and antioxidant content compared to grain-finished.
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Offering a natural forage diet and pasture access provides health and welfare benefits for cattle.
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Farms specializing in grass-finished beef use sustainable grazing methods to manage pastures.
Overall, grass-finished provides a leaner product with some nutritional advantages and follows a traditional pasture-based production method preferred by some sustainable ranchers and consumers. The term “grass-fed” alone does not guarantee 100% grass finishing, so look for the “grass-finished” label or do research on the farm’s practices.
What is Grain-Finished Beef?
In contrast to grass-finished, grain-finished beef comes from cattle fed a grain-based diet during the finishing stage for fast weight gain.
Key characteristics of conventional grain-finished beef:
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Finishing diet consists of 70-90% grain like corn, barley, or sorghum plus protein supplements.
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Grains provide concentrated calories to rapidly increase muscle and fat development.
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Takes only 120-150 days in feedlots to finish cattle to market weight.
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Produces well-marbled beef with a tender, juicy texture and milder flavor.
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Has a higher overall fat content with more saturated fat and calories compared to grass-finished.
For most U.S. beef, grain-finishing in feedlots is the standard practice, driven by increased efficiency, faster production, and desirable fat marbling. However, there are some ethical and sustainability concerns with feedlots to consider.
Key Differences Between Grass-Fed and Grain-Fed
While the terms sound similar, grass-finished and grain-finished beef differ in some important ways:
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Fat Content: Grain-finished beef contains more total fat and marbling, while grass-finished is leaner with a better fatty acid profile.
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Fat Type: Grass-finished has higher omega-3s, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and antioxidants like vitamin E. Grain-finished is higher in monounsaturated fat.
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Flavor: Grain-finished is mildly beefy and juicy. Grass-finished has a stronger “grassy” and gamey flavor.
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Texture: More marbling makes grain-finished beef tender and moist when cooked. Grass-finished can be slightly less tender but still flavorful.
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Nutrition: Grass-finished has fewer calories and more nutrients while grain-finished contains more fat and calories per serving.
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Production Method: Grain-finishing in feedlots is efficient but raises welfare concerns. Grass-finishing provides a natural, pasture-based alternative.
Understanding these differences allows you to choose the finishing method aligned with your priorities like taste, health, ethics, or sustainability.
Why Choose Grass-Finished Beef?
While it costs a bit more, grass-finished beef offers some compelling advantages:
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Cattle live in their natural habitat, grazing outdoors on pasture their entire lives.
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Grass-only diets are healthier and more natural for cattle compared to grain-heavy feedlot rations.
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Increased exercise, fresh air, and diverse forage on pasture benefit overall cattle welfare.
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Avoiding intensive feedlots reduces environmental impacts and supports sustainable ranching.
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Nutritional profile with more omega-3s, CLAs, vitamins A and E provides health benefits.
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Subtler beefy flavor and texture appeals to grass-fed beef connoisseurs.
For these reasons, grass-finished beef follows an ethical and environmentally sound production model that some consumers prefer to support through their purchasing choices.
Finding True 100% Grass-Finished Beef
Be careful when purchasing “grass-fed” beef, as this term alone does not guarantee exclusively grass-based finishing. Here are some tips for identifying true grass-finished beef:
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Check for credible certifications like Animal Welfare Approved or the American Grassfed Association. These regulate grass-finishing standards.
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Look for “100% grass-fed AND grass-finished” on labels to confirm no grain feeding occurred.
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Contact farms or butchers directly to ask if their cattle eat only grass from birth to harvest.
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Avoid labels with “grass-fed” only, as grain supplementation is still allowed. Always verify finishing practices.
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Check ingredient lists contain just one item: beef. No grains, corn, soy, or other feed additions.
Doing a little extra research helps ensure you get beef from cattle fed only grass and forage from start to finish. This 100% grass-finished beef retains nutritional benefits while adhering to sustainable, pasture-centered farming practices. Though more expensive, many feel the payoff in quality is well worth the price.
The Takeaway on Finished Beef
In cattle production, the terms “grass-finished” and “grain-finished” describe the crucial final feeding phase that impacts beef’s ultimate nutritional profile and eating quality. While most U.S. beef comes from efficient but controversial grain-feedlots, the grass-finished movement offers a traditional, pasture-based alternative for consumers who prioritize sustainability, animal welfare, and nutrition. Seeking out 100% grass-finished beef means you can access these benefits while supporting alternative models of ethical and eco-conscious beef production.
#4 Why Should You Choose Pre Beef? Our Beef Has A Host of Nutritional Benefits
When compared to grain-fed beef brands, Pre grass-fed and finished beef is lower in calories and lower in fat. That’s because our cattle are not quickly fattened up by feeding them grain or keeping them in factory-farming settings.
Instead, our cattle live a more natural life. They eat and grow more slowly, move around and get plenty of exercise, and develop meat that’s lean and healthy, yet is also tender with plenty of marbling.
Our beef also has no added antibiotics or growth hormones. It’s not “hormone-free,” because nothing can be hormone free – just like all humans and other animals—cattle have hormones in their bodies that they generate naturally to keep them healthy. Instead, we label our products as “No Added Hormones.”
This simply means that none of our cows are pumped full of hormones that are often used at factory farms to promote growth. They grow completely naturally throughout their entire lifetime.
In addition, our fixed portion sizes allow us to accurately calculate the nutritional profile of our products. Find exact nutrition information on each shopping page. Its safe to say that overall, our Pre beef offers:
- Up to 38% fewer calories*
- Up to 63% less fat*
- Higher heart-healthy Omega 3s*
- Higher CLA, which may also have health benefits*
- 10 essential nutrients including B vitamins, iron, protein and zinc
(*) Versus USDA choice version for the same cut of beef
#2 The Pre Difference: We Practice High Quality Sourcing Methods
At Pre, we believe Mother Nature, not technology, should be responsible for what’s on our plates. Since all of our beef is grass-fed and finished, we source it from an environment where the grass is the healthiest and most nutrient-rich. It also has to pass our 15-point Quality Check.
This led us to the milder climates of Australia, New Zealand, and the United States where nutrient-rich grasses are grown, and can support cattle year-round. Some of the grasses the cattle graze on are alfalfa, clover, Flinders grass, Mitchell grass and rye.
Not only does this mean cows eat delicious grass and live happy lives, but they can graze on prairie grasses all-year-round, unlike cows in colder climates, which often must eat grass pellets, supplements, or even grains during the cold winter months.
Did you know that beef, like wine, gets its flavor from various factors including climate, region, and soil, which is why sourcing location matters. This makes sense, of course! The taste of the meat comes from the animal, and its lifestyle, habits, and diet all play a part.
Our top tip is to buy your beef like you buy your wine. Buy from ranchers that are treating animals and the environement well.
Grass-Fed vs. Grass-Finished Beef: Big Difference
FAQ
What does it mean to finish beef?
But what does it mean for cattle to be finished? “Finishing” refers to what cattle eat in the final 4-8 months of their lives—on the short end of this range for grain-finished beef and longer for grass-finished beef.
What is the difference between grass fed and finished beef?
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The Wellness Bloghttps://discover.grasslandbeef.comGrass-Fed vs. Grass-Finished Beef: What’s the Difference?Mar 15, 2021 — Today’s labeling of beef products is confusing Grass-finished means that the cows ate grass, plants, and shrubs their entire lives. Grass-fed means …
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Verde Farmshttps://verdefarms.comWhat Is The Difference Between Grass-Fed And Grass-Finished Beef?Mar 3, 2025 — Simply put, grass-finished beef comes from cattle that ate nothing but grass and forage for their entire lives. Grass-fed, on the other hand, may be …
What is 100% grass-fed and finished beef?
What does it mean if beef is 100% grass fed? “100% grass fed” and “grass finished” hold the same meaning: cattle only consumed grass and forage and never received any grain or concentrates.
Is grass-finished beef healthy?
Grass fed beef can help improve your heart health by: Antioxidants such as vitamin E. High amounts of omega–3 fatty acids. Less unhealthy fats.
Is grass-fed beef the same as grass-finished beef?
But, no, not quite. Simply put, grass-finished beef comes from cattle that ate nothing but grass and forage for their entire lives. Grass-fed, on the other hand, may be used to label meat from cattle that were started on a grass diet but have either received supplemental grain feed or are finished on a fully grain-based diet.
What is grain finished beef?
Grain finished beef spend the majority of their lives eating grass. What makes them different from grass finished beef is that during the last 6-8 months of their lives, grain finished cattle are free to eat a balanced diet of local feed ingredients.
What does grass finished beef mean?
A grass finished label means that cow ate nothing but grass or forage for the entirety of their lives. They were most likely raised in a pasture where they could graze. They might have also received milk from their momma as babies. Grass finished beef tends to have a beefier texture to it. Some might refer to this flavor or texture as gamey.
Is grass fed beef a finished beef?
All cattle (and we really do mean all) spend the majority of their lives eating grass on pasture. But beef can be “finished” in a variety of ways. This is why you see different labels on beef like “grass fed beef”, “grass finished beef”, “natural” and “grain finished beef.” Grain finished beef spend the majority of their lives eating grass.
What is the difference between grass-finished and grain-finished beef?
Grain-finished beef has more overall fat and marbling compared to grass-finished. Grain diets cause cattle to pile on fat more quickly, especially unhealthy saturated fats. Grass-finished beef is leaner with a better omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid ratio.
What is finished cattle?
In beef cattle production, “finished” refers to the diet cattle are fed during the last 4-6 months of their lives before they are harvested. Finishing is the final stage of feeding cattle to encourage rapid weight gain and fat deposition after calves have been weaned and backgrounded.