Grass Fed Doesn't Mean Grass Finished

I honeymooned with my amazing wife to Las Vegas last week and had a bit of a shock.  I went to a boutique butcher stand where they had a big sign that said "Grass Fed Beef" where you could pick the (very expensive) cut you want and they would cook it and plate it for you right there (for an additional $15).  

I took a look at the steaks they were offering and was shocked at the level of marbling they had achieved.   I was shocked because it's incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to attain very high levels of marbling when finishing beef on grass.   My interest piqued, I was compelled to inquire of the friendly butcher/chef as to where they got their beef.  I was informed that most of the beef was sourced from Indiana (not a small farmer or anything, this was feedlot beef), and that the ribeyes were Waygu.  

And then I commented that I was surprised at the level of marbling they had attained on their grass fed beef.  The chef then informed me that none of the cuts there were actually grass finished; they all were finished on grain save the Waygu ribeyes. 

In effect, none of the beef they were selling would have the health benefits of being grass fed because the animals were fed grain before being slaughtered save the Waygu ribeyes.  What they were selling was largely a lie.  I thanked the butcher/chef for the conversation and thoughtfully went on my way.

In Las Vegas, the city of imitation and illusion, maybe it's ok to be falsely advertising.   In Montana, you had better be honest about what you're selling.  In my understanding, "grass fed" means that the animal you're selling never had grain in their lives.  "Grass finished" means they didn't have any grain for at least the last 90 days prior to slaughter so that the Omega-3 and CLA levels are boosted in the meat you're buying.  The 90 days of "clean" eating is a minimum for having the health benefits of grass fed beef.   

At KD Farms, we feed small amounts of non-GMO barley to growing calves to attain a balanced feed ration, and usually for the last whole year, the finishing steers don't get any hard grains.  That way, the calves grow at optimum levels to build the frames they need to support their finishing weight but we make sure they put on the CLA and Omega-3s by extending the grain free period before slaughter.  We probably average at least six months before slaughter that our steers don't get any barley.  

I was compelled to write this blog to warn people to inquire as to their finished product and what the animals they are buying were fed before slaughter.  It makes a difference.    

 Be Blessed.

-Kenny