grass-fed beef isn't actually grass-fed
At least, not in the way that most people think. When you look at a steak in the supermarket and it's labeled as grass-fed, you'd probably think "oh sweet, this animal subsisted on grass instead of corn, soy, and wheat", and that would be a logical conclusion to reach.
Problem is, you'd be wrong, and it's not even your fault. Marketing and labeling around food and other agricultural products is notoriously sneaky. Aside from a few things that must be abided by legally such as USDA and AMS guidelines, the true meaning (or sometimes lack of meaning) of most labels is not well-understood by average consumers.
So what's the deal then? They're pretending to feed the cows grass? Not exactly. When a label says grass-fed, that animal was indeed fed grass on pasture. HOWEVER, what they don't tell you is that while it may be fed grass, it's usually finished on grain. Whether a calf is weaned onto grass or grain based diets, most cattle in the US are fed grain in the months before processing.
It's not for nothing. Cattle finished on grain have much more abundant and consistent marbling in the desirable cuts like those that become steaks. The American palate has grown accustomed to that marbling, so it just makes sense that most producers would make that common practice. But that's not all: due to differences in lipids (among varying other nutrients) between grass and grain, the latter produces fat that is much more mild in flavor.
While grass-finished beef has a market in the US, it is not desirable by processors due to the longer finishing time to produce adequate marbling. Additionally, it isn't as popular among consumers, partially due to differing flavors and textures; some have described it as gamey, tough, or even fishy. The fat in grass-finished beef is also notably different, taking on a vibrant yellow color as a result of the beta-carotene in the grasses they'd have eaten.
Neither is better than the other, but one certainly is favored due to convenience and cost-efficiency. A vast majority of beef cattle are finished in groups in feedlot settings, and there is a staggering amount of land dedicated to cattle corn that will mostly be bought by the companies that own the feedlots. Quite the vicious cycle, isn't it?
