Only a few generations ago, cows bred for human consumption were raised on pastures, eating solely grasses, hay and forage. In recent times, that diet has changed for a majority of cattle raised in the U.S., with the advent of industrialized cattle farming.
While beef produced on industrial farms is, in most cases, successful and of high quality, there is an increasing consumer demand for alternative sources of meat, including grass-fed cattle.
Whether raised on pastures or feedlots (industrialized farms), cows intended for beef products start on grass diets. The difference is that grass-fed cows remain on that diet for life, while cows on feedlots are transitioned to a diet which includes grains like corn and with additives like antibiotics and growth hormones.
To read the rest of this story please go to: The Saratogian