To start, both grass-fed and certified organic meats, like beef, pork and lamb, are health-wise, considered superior to livestock raised from industrial farms and finished in feedlots with grain diets. Beyond this however, there are clear differences in both production and nutrition between the two.
Grass-Fed
Grass-fed and grass-finished animals live off an exclusive diet of grass, hay and other forage. This means no grains were ever fed to the animal (although you can get grass-fed grain-finished meat which is important to be aware of).
The reason why grass-fed does not mean organic, is because during production it is possible that pesticides were used on the grasses or hay. As well, the animals could have been treated with antibiotics or hormones.
Organic
Certified organic farms do not use antibiotics or hormones. Organic farmers must document that no pesticides or fertilizers were used on the land. So if livestock is grass-fed, you know for certain no chemicals have entered the animals’ systems.
One particular difference here is that certified organic farms can feed their animals grain, just as long as it is organic. Sometimes grass isn’t accessible, such as during winter, and a grain diet must be supplemented. This still means your organic meat has not been exposed to synthetics or chemicals.
Preference
Whether or not you prefer grass-fed or organic meat is a personal choice. Both are ethical ways of farming and employ sustainable practices. Certified organic ensures everything is completely natural, but can mean your meat has been grain-fed. From there, it really becomes about personal taste. For many, the taste of grass-fed meat and supporting a local farmer is enough. For others, certified organic is the standard to live by. We respect both preferences.
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