However, there are other differences in the meat. Because a grass-fed animal requires more time on feed to reach a target weight, the meat has less marbling. This means the animals are less likely to grade prime and more likely to grade select or choice.
- Why Might Different Regions Use Different Production Systems? One region or product might use a grass-based system if they have plenty of pasture and forage available, or another could be that they use a grain-based system if grain is easier to access and they want their cattle to reach their target weight. The trade-off is that grass-fed cattle take longer to reach their target weight, but the meat is usually leaner and has less fat and calories. As for grain-fed cattle, they grow faster and can be kept in a smaller area, which frees up land for other uses, but they require more grain and feed resources. A production method that works well in one location may be less practical for another because it differs in land, pasture, and feed availability.