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I go out of my way to find grass-fed beef (and grass-fed dairy products) these days. Most of the grass-fed beef that I do find is imported from New Zealand and boy is it tasty! I started trying to incorporate more Paleo-leaning food choices into my diet many years ago and the grass-fed beef is just another extension of that choice. 

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Not only do I search for beef that is grass-fed but I also hope to find beef that has been grass-finished as well, because the grass-fed label can sometimes be applied to beef that was grass-fed in the early stages of life but then grain-fed later on. Sometimes it can be difficult to find a store that carries this type of beef, but like I said that is why I will go out of my way to try and find it. I feel that I can notice the quality difference in the taste, just as I do when I made the switch to free range antibiotic-free eggs rather than the regular caged ones. With the eggs, you can see the difference clearly in the color of the yolk. 

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A number of studies also claim that grass-eating cows are a healthier choice because you are going to be able to get a higher amount of omega-3s and antioxidants from eating the grass-fed beef than you would from going with the grain-fed. The grass-finished cows are going to be the ones who aren't finished on a concentrated grain diet that is usually employed in order to quickly fatten them up before they go to market. The grass-fed cattle get to spend their entire lives eating only grass, both fresh grass in the summer and dried grasses (hay) or fermented grasses (haylage) in the fall. 

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With grass-finished cattle it is going to take six to 12 months longer for them to reach an optimal market weight. It is important to note that grass-fed is not the same as organic and I would much rather have a steak that read grass-finished or grass-fed, than one which read organic/antibiotic free. 


With more consumers finding out about and making the switch to grass-fed steaks it's no-doubt going to continue prompting more farmers to utilize this approach to raising their cattle. And I hope more farmers get in on the action because that will only increase my options in the market place, which for now continues to dwindle seeing as the more that the popularity over this beef-type increases the more likely I get to the market where I can buy it only to find that they're sold-out.  



sources: 
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/is-grass-fed-beef-more-nutritious-than-regular-beef/article28948990/

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/expert-answers/grass-fed-beef/faq-20058059


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