This week, I’ve had lots of wonderful conversations with customers about the benefits of ‘Grass Finished Beef’ and how choosing Oostema Wagyu can benefit both your health and the planet. I wanted to take a moment to share these insights with you as well.
At Oostema Wagyu, we’re committed to being transparent about where your food comes from and how it’s raised. Here’s a closer look at the differences between Grass-Finished Beef and Grain-Finished Beef:
GRASS-Finished Beef
Our Wagyu cattle graze on lush, green grass throughout their entire lives, including local hay during the winter months. This natural diet supports their health and results in beef that’s rich in omega-3 fatty acids, with a healthier omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. For you, this translates to potential health benefits such as a lower risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and reduced inflammation. And of course, many of our customers rave about the richer, more natural taste!
GRAIN-Finished Beef:
In contrast grain-finished beef typically comes from cattle that are switched to a grain-based diet before processing. While they start on pasture, they are then moved to feedlots where they are fed a high-energy grain diet to quickly increase fat content. This type of diet can lead to health risks for the cattle, including acidosis, bloat, and stress on their immune systems – which is truly heartbreaking to see. From a flavor standpoint, grain-finished beef often lacks the depth and richness that grass-finished beef offers.
Why Oostema Wagyu?
At Oostema Farmstead, we’re incredibly proud how we raise our cattle. Many of our customers report feeling better after enjoying our Grass-Finished Beef and say they wouldn’t go back to Grain-Finished Beef. The health benefits, the richer taste, and the peace of mind knowing they are supporting sustainable practices are just a few of the reasons why they choose us.
We hope this helps clarify why Grass-Finished Beef is the healthier, tastier, and more ethical choice. As always, we are so grateful for your continued support of our farm. We love hearing from you – whether by email or phone – so please feel free to reach out anytime.
