grass-fed vs. grain-fed beef: what’s the difference?

It’s the question we get more than any other: “Which is better, grass-fed or grain-fed beef?”

The short answer? It depends on what you’re after. But let’s break it down.

grass-fed beef: clean, lean, and nutrient-dense

Grass-fed and grass-finished beef comes from cattle raised entirely on pasture. At Hi Bräu, this means a lifetime diet of forage from grasses, legumes, and hay. No feedlots. No shortcuts.

key benefits of grass-fed beef:

• Lower fat content = fewer calories per serving

• Higher in omega-3 fatty acids

• Better omega-6:omega-3 ratio

• Rich in antioxidants and CLA

• Lower exposure to antibiotics or hormones

• Bold, traditional flavor (if the grasses are good—ours are)

• Environmentally sustainable grass cycles improve soil and carbon capture

Flavor note: When finished right, grass-fed beef has a deeper, more “old-school” flavor. If you grew up eating farm-raised beef, this might taste like home.

grain-fed beef: tender, marbled, and mellow

Grain-fed beef (what you’ll find in most grocery stores) is raised in feedlots and finished on high-carb grain like corn and soy. This bulks up cattle quickly and increases intramuscular fat (marbling).

key benefits of grain-fed beef:

• Higher marbling for buttery texture and flavor

• More consistent tenderness

• Milder taste preferred by many home cooks

• Easier to find and often more affordable

It’s the most efficient system - cheap, fast, and consistent. That’s why 98% of beef in the U.S. is raised this way.

what about hi Brau’s grain-finished beef?

Here’s where we do things differently.

Our grain-finished cattle are still pasture-raised with daily access to fresh forage. They receive a small amount of locally milled grain as a finishing supplement (we call it their “ice cream”).

This approach:

• Enhances marbling and tenderness

• Preserves the health and flavor benefits of a grass-based diet

• Results in a balanced, flavorful, nutrient-dense steak

It’s a hybrid between traditional grass-fed and conventional grain-fed beef, leaning more toward the clean-eating side, with the tenderness people crave.

so… which Is better?

It depends on what matters most to you.

	Grass-Fed	Grain-Fed
Best for	Nutrition, flavor, sustainability	Marbling, tenderness, consistency
Taste	Bold, mineral-rich	Mild, buttery
Fat Content	Lower	Higher
Omega-3s & Antioxidants	Higher	Lower
Sourcing	Harder to find	Widely available
Price	Often higher (not at Hi Bräu)	Typically lower

At Hi Bräu, we raise both—because we believe both have value. And because not every steak should taste the same.

want to try both?

We make it easy to compare. Try our Crafted Beef Flight for a mix of cuts, or shop individual steaks by finish:

→ Shop Grass-Finished Beef → Shop Grain-Finished Beef

No matter what side you land on, our beef is always pasture-raised, antibiotic-free, and full of intention.

Still have questions? We’re happy to help you find the right cut.