What distinguishes grass fed beef from grain fed beef?

The distinguishing characteristic of grass-fed beef compared to grain-fed beef is that grass-fed beef comes from cattle that are raised on pasture and primarily consume grass and forage throughout their lives until harvest. This production method significantly impacts the nutritional profile, flavor, and environmental sustainability of the beef.

Cattle raised on grass spend their lives grazing in pasture-based systems, which aligns with natural feeding behaviors. This contrasts with grain-fed beef, where cattle are typically finished on a diet of grains and other supplements in feedlots, which can change the meat's quality and fat characteristics.

The other options do not accurately capture this distinction. While grass-fed beef may sometimes be more expensive due to the costs associated with pasture management and longer growing periods, this is not a definitive characteristic. Similarly, grass-fed beef does not necessarily mean that cattle are harvested earlier; in fact, they may take longer to reach market weight. Lastly, although grass-fed cattle are indeed fed forages, the more specific and defining aspect is their continuous grazing on pasture until the time of harvest.