In the UK, the term “grass fed beef” is used to describe the beef from cattle whose diet consists primarily of grass and other forage, rather than grain-based feeds.
However, across brands, the definition can vary as the term is not currently tightly regulated or legally defined.
Grass fed cattle are raised primarily on grass and forage throughout their lives with the addition of minimal amounts of supplementary feed. Supplementary feed can be in the form of hay, silage or even concentrates when pasture is unavailable due to weather conditions. Grass fed animals also have access to pasture for the majority of the year.
Grass Fed Beef Meat
As the term for grass fed beef meat is not legally defined or protected, the addition of assurance schemes and their certification can help add credibility to brands. Certification can be given to farms from either of the following organisations:
The Pasture for Life Certification (PFLA) is the strictest UK standard with the most stringent criteria. The certification can only be awarded to farms where cattle must be 100% grass fed and forage fed for the entirety of their lives. This standard means grains are strictly excluded from the animal’s diet. In short, animals must have access to pasture whenever conditions allow and only then may packaging carry the pasture for life logo.
Unlike the PFLA, the Red Tractor scheme simply concerns the welfare of the animals and that they are mainly pasture fed and well cared for. Some farms under this assurance may claim their beef is grass fed despite also providing the cows with supplementary grain feed.
If you are passionate about eating grass fed beef, then the PFLA certification is the safest option.
Organic Grass Fed Beef
In the UK, organic and 100% grass fed beef with pasture for life certification would be the highest quality of meat available with strict ethical guidelines and the absence of growth hormones and routine antibiotics.
The terms organic beef and grass fed beef are not mutually exclusive, however, organic beef is legally protected with strict certification available from several bodies.
It is worth noting that not all organic beef is strictly grass fed and not all grass feed beef is organic. The only way to ensure both standards are met is to check each label is given, so look for organic and grass fed labelling which is backed by a pasture for life and organic logo.
