Factor
Store-Bought Beef
Farm-Raised Beef
✅ Source & Scale
Large commercial operations
Small to mid-size farms
✅ Feeding Practices
Often grain-finished (corn/sorghum) for faster growth
More likely grass-fed/finished — though not always
✅ Antibiotics & Hormones
May be used for growth promotion (in conventional systems)
Often labeled “raised without hormones” or “no antibiotics” — but verify claims
✅ Transparency
Limited — origin may be pooled from multiple states/countries
Higher — many farms share stories, photos, even farm visits
✅ Cost
Generally lower per pound
Usually higher due to labor-intensive methods
✅ Availability
Year-round, widely accessible
Seasonal or limited supply in some areas
💡 Neither is inherently “better” — each has trade-offs.
🌱 How Cattle Are Raised: What Matters Most
1. Diet: Grass vs. Grain
Grass-Fed: Cattle eat only grass and forage their entire lives
Grain-Finished: Cattle start on grass, then move to feedlots where they’re fed grain to add marbling and weight
📊 Nutritional differences:
