The Truth About Grass-Fed and Grass-Finished Beef: Prosper Meats' Scientific Approach

Understanding Grass-Fed vs. Grass-Finished: The Prosper Meats Difference

At Prosper Meats, we believe in complete transparency. That's why we're pulling back the curtain on what "grass-fed and grass-finished" really means, especially since the USDA doesn't regulate these terms. Our commitment to quality and honesty is at the core of the Prosper Meats Promise: "From Seed to Dinner Plate."

You may have noticed that we call some of our beef products "grass-fed and grass-finished". It has occurred to us that not everyone knows what this means, and, to complicate matters, the "grass-fed" label on your beef is not defined or controlled by the USDA. Rather than being vague or trying to gloss over the details of our work, we feel it is important that our customers know everything there is to know about where their beef comes from, how it was treated, and what it was fed during its lifetime.

The Industry's Dirty Secret: Feedlot Finishing

Many "grass-fed" cattle spend only the majority of their lives on pasture. In their final months, they're often sent to cramped feedlots and fed grain to fatten them up. This practice compromises the health benefits and ethical standards that conscious consumers seek.

The definition of grass-fed beef is surprisingly vague. It only requires that cattle spend the "majority" of their lives eating grass. This loophole allows some producers to label their beef as grass-fed even if the animals spend their last few months in feedlots, consuming grain and corn to fatten them up quickly.

The Science Behind Grass-Fed Beef

Research has shown that the diet of cattle significantly impacts the nutritional profile of beef. A study published in the Journal of Animal Science found that grass-fed beef contains higher levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants compared to grain-fed beef. Read the study here.

The Flavor Challenge: Grass-Fed vs. Grain-Fed

If you're someone who is interested in grass-fed beef, you have probably heard the argument that "grass-fed beef doesn't taste the same as grain-fed beef," or maybe "grass-fed beef is less fatty and therefore less flavorful than grain-fed beef."

There is a bit of truth to this thought, actually. Since humans began commercially raising these animals, and experimenting with different feeds, we have learned that feeding cattle an artificial diet of grain and corn makes their beef taste, well, great. A diet of only grass, especially easy to grow grasses that aren't native to certain environments, leads to healthier, less fatty cattle. And, as anyone on a weight loss diet could tell you, fat usually equals flavor.

While less fatty cows make healthier beef (see our article about the health benefits of grass-fed beef "What's the Big Deal About Grass-Fed Beef" for the full story), it's true that it often doesn't carry quite the same flavor. However, at Prosper Meats, we've tackled this challenge head-on through innovative research and sustainable practices.

Our Scientific Approach to Flavorful, Healthy Beef

Flavor and quality are the top priorities here at Prosper Meats. When we decided to offer a selection of beef that is truly grass-fed and grass-finished, we wanted to make it taste just as good, if not better than grain-fed. So we focused on a driving question: Is it possible to make our healthy, grass-fed beef taste as good as grain-fed? The answer, it turns out, is yes.

After five years of intensive research, we've developed a unique blend of native Colorado grasses that produces beef with the flavor of grain-fed and the health benefits of grass-fed. Our cattle graze on carefully selected grasses rich in flavor-enhancing proteins, resulting in beef that's both delicious and nutritious.

A study in the journal Food Science & Nutrition has shown that the type of forage consumed by cattle can significantly influence the flavor profile of the beef. Learn more about the impact of forage on beef flavor.

The Science of Grass Selection

We wanted to take a scientific approach to finding out how to pack more flavor into healthier grass-fed beef. We knew that we weren't going to get flavor from fat if we are only feeding our cattle grass, but maybe there was a way to change the flavor of beef by changing the type of grass the cattle eat.

When analyzing the diet of grass-fed beef, we discovered that the grasses used in grass-fed pastures are typically easy-growing grasses that are lacking in certain proteins. When delving into this discovery, we realized that the metabolization of these proteins has a direct effect on the beef's flavor.

We next realized that these missing proteins are found in heartier grasses that cows often eat in their natural habitats. These hearty grasses are not as efficient at covering pastures, so cattle farmers have been focusing on the species that are easy to grow instead. With this knowledge, we decided to start testing mixtures of conventional grass and heartier grass on our cattle to see if that changed the taste of the beef in the direction we were hoping.

Recent studies have shown that the composition of pasture grasses can significantly affect the fatty acid profile and antioxidant content of beef. A comprehensive review in the journal Meat Science explores this relationship in detail. Read the scientific review here.

Sustainability: A Core Value at Prosper Meats

It is worth mentioning here that Prosper Meats also believes in sustainability. As we began experimenting with our grass feeds and finishes, we wanted to try and focus on using only grasses local to our environment, if possible. We are located in beautiful Denver, CO, and if we could keep our pastures full of local, non-invasive species then we could feel even better about the work that we were doing in our home state.

Our commitment to sustainability goes beyond just using local grasses. We employ rotational grazing practices that mimic natural herd movements, promoting soil health and carbon sequestration. This approach not only benefits the environment but also results in more nutrient-dense grass for our cattle, further enhancing the quality of our beef.

The environmental benefits of grass-fed beef production have been well-documented. A study in the journal Agricultural Systems demonstrates how proper grazing management can contribute to carbon sequestration and improved soil health. Explore the environmental impact of grass-fed beef production.

The Result: Premium Colorado Grass-Fed Beef

We are proud to say that, after five years of testing different grasses and different grass finishes, we finally figured it out. We have discovered which types of grasses to use in pastures and which types to use in our grass finishing techniques so that our grass-fed beef contains all of the flavor without the added fat of grain-fed cattle! And, we have the added accomplishment of doing this with 100% local Colorado grasses.

Because we don't want our competition to gain the benefit of our time and effort, we can't give away too many details. But rest assured, our farms feed our cattle only Colorado grasses for the entirety of their lives and we still deliver the highest quality of flavor.

The Nutritional Edge of Prosper Meats' Grass-Fed Beef

Our unique approach to grass-fed beef production doesn't just result in better flavor - it also yields significant nutritional benefits:

• Higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids
• Increased conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content
• More vitamins A and E
• Higher concentrations of antioxidants

These nutritional advantages have been confirmed by numerous scientific studies. A comprehensive review in the Nutrition Journal outlines the health benefits of grass-fed beef. Read about the nutritional benefits of grass-fed beef.

The Prosper Meats Promise: Transparency from Seed to Plate

One of Prosper Meats' founding principles is to be transparent about where people's food comes from. We use the line "from seed to plate" to encapsulate the fact that we control every aspect of our beef production so you can be confident in knowing exactly where your food is coming from.

When we say "grass-fed" we mean just that. Our grass-fed, grass-finished cattle are fed grass and other natural vegetation found in pastures for their entire lives and they are never exposed to a feedlot. We finish our cows on natural grasses in wide open spaces, and we have gone to great lengths to assure that the diet of finishing grass results in "grain finished" flavor as well as meeting our self-imposed standards of eco-friendliness and sustainability.

Our Product Range: Something for Everyone

We've learned a lot throughout our journey to produce the highest quality grass-fed beef. In doing this, we discovered better and more humane ways to raise traditional grain-fed beef as well. For those who still enjoy traditional grain-fed beef, we do offer two tiers of beef cattle:

1. Grass-Fed & Grass-Finished Beef: Our signature product, 100% grass-fed for health-conscious consumers who want the ultimate in nutrition and ethical farming.
2. Prosper Steakhouse Beef: A variety that is raised and fed a mixture of hay, Colorado grass, and spent grain, for those who prefer a more traditional flavor profile but still want the benefits of primarily grass-fed beef.

The Future of Sustainable Beef Production

At Prosper Meats, we're not just producing beef - we're pioneering a more sustainable and ethical approach to cattle farming. Our ongoing research and development efforts are focused on further improving the nutritional profile of our beef while minimizing our environmental impact.

Recent advancements in precision agriculture and pasture management are opening new possibilities for sustainable beef production. A study in the journal Sustainability explores these innovative approaches. Learn about the future of sustainable beef farming.

Experience the Prosper Meats Difference

We hope you have appreciated our spirit of transparency in describing our feeding techniques, and we know that you will taste the difference when selecting from our wide variety of products. Ready to experience the superior flavor and health benefits of true grass-fed, grass-finished beef? Explore our range of premium Colorado beef products today.

There's more to the Prosper Meats Promise: Learn about our commitment to animal welfare