“Pasture-raised” is, in theory, meant to indicate that the animal spends a majority of its life outside with natural ground covering, as opposed to just access to the outdoors some of the time.
All of these terms, although sometimes confusing, can be important to consumers who value quality of life for the animals. This may be for ethical reasons or because access to sunshine, grass and naturally occurring bugs can increase nutrients in meats and eggs, or both.
Grass-Fed vs. Grass-Finished: What You Need to Know
Traditionally, cows consumed mostly grasses. Their multiple stomachs allow them to convert this grass into protein. Grain-fed cows became prevalent in the 1940s and 50s as a way to quickly fatten up cattle cheaply. And while cows can digest some grains, over time, if grains make up most of their diet, the pH of their stomach shifts to become more acidic and they can no longer break down grasses consumed.
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