Grass Finished South Poll: Our On-Tap Selection

So what's the deal with grass fed and grass finished? We’re sure that you’ve never heard of South Poll, so allow us to give you a little bit of education before we tell you what to look for in the eating experience.

South Poll is a composite breed, meaning that it was bred from other existing fullblood breeds to produce a stable breed of its own. The lineage includes breeds from India, Africa, the Carribean, and Europe. It was developed in Alabama by…wait for it…the bassist for the country music supergroup, “Alabama”. That’s right, when Teddy Gentry wasn’t busy playing in sold-out arenas and producing number-one hits as the top-selling country music group of all time, he was apparently developing a new cattle breed.

So what’s special about this breed? Two things. First, these cows were bred to work perfectly in the South. Their red hide helps them deal with the heat, their dense hair follicles help resist pests, and their ability to breed easily makes them a top choice for quality calves.

Second, they were bred specifically to finish on grass, which is almost unheard of. Almost every cow born in America ultimately goes into a grain finishing system. That means that once they’re fully grown, they are fed to become fat on grain. A fat cow is the key to good beef.

South Polls are different. They have been bred to be efficient, and therefore finish easily, on our Southern grasses, which are some of the best in the world. While most breeds need high carb grain for a quality finish, South Polls are fine doing it on "salad" alone. '

When you see beef for sale marked as grass fed, watch out! That only means that the animal started its life on grass. It does not mean that it didn't get grain. Usually when you see grass fed, it means that the animal was raised on pasture, but given supplemental grain. There's nothing wrong with that, as we use that method on our Angus cattle. If you're looking for the real thing though, make sure that it says 100% grass fed and finished...just like our South Poll.

South Polls are also known for their ecological benefits. Since this is our most efficient breed, we need less grass per cow. Rapid grazing and not having to bring in grain make this the perfect choice for those who want their beef to have a regenerative effect on the environment.

South Polls also offer a great eating experience. The flavor is robust, but not overpowering. It’s a reflection of the quality grasses, legumes, and forbs that these animals were raised on. They were also bred from the beginning with a focus on tenderness. They are marbled about the same as most grocery store meat, but typically not as much as our Angus cattle. These would typically grade as mid to high choice steaks based on our fatty acid testing and visual appraisal. The flavor is sometimes described as bold and memorable. Some people who grew up on beef raised by a parent or grandparent tell us that it reminds them of that traditional flavor.

The South Polls also get some of our highest marks in health benefits, rivaled only by our grass finished Wagyu. Their fatty acid tests are amazing, with Omega 6:Omega 3 ratios close to 1:1…the same as sardines. They’re low in saturated fats and high in unsaturated (good) fats. If you're looking for some of the healthiest beef in America, this should be your choice. We have the science to prove it.

Because it’s so well rounded, we’ve made it one of our two “On Tap” varieties; types of beef that are the foundation of Hi Brau Beef and that we always try to keep in stock. The only downside is that we don't grow the grass necessary for good beef in the winter months. That means that we usually run out of South Poll in winter, and restock in late Spring.

If flavor, health, and environmental benefits are a concern, this is the choice for you.