Aug 13, 25
What Does Grass-Fed and Grass-Finished Beef Mean?
What Grass-Fed & Finished Really Means — From Our Pasture to Your Plate
We’ve been wondering… do most folks really know what grass-fed and grass-finished means?
It’s a phrase you’ll hear tossed around a lot these days, but here at Born & Raised, it’s not just a trendy label. It’s a way of life.
So pour yourself a cup of coffee, pull up a chair, and let’s talk about why our beef is different—and why that difference matters when you’re feeding your family.
It Starts Right Here in Texas
Our cattle are raised in Emory, Texas, just a couple hours east of Dallas. This isn’t corporate feedlot beef shipped in from who-knows-where. Every animal we raise has grown up on Texas grass, breathing Texas air, and drinking fresh water from the land we tend ourselves.
From the ranch to your plate, it’s truly farm to table. And because we’re local to DFW—selling right here in Frisco, TX—you know exactly where your food comes from. That alone sets us apart from most of the meat you find in grocery stores, which is often shipped in from out-of-state or even out-of-country, where farming practices may be questionable at best.
Even if you don’t buy from us, we believe you should know the source of your meat. When it comes to feeding your family, transparency matters.
Grass-Fed—From the Very Beginning
Now, let’s talk about what “grass-fed” really means. For us, it’s simple: our cattle eat grass from birth until the day they’re processed. No soy-based feed. No corn. No grain.
A cow’s body was designed to digest grass. When cattle are fed what nature intended, they grow healthier and leaner. That means the beef they produce is healthier for you, too.
Compared to grain-fed cattle, grass-fed beef is:
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Lower in overall fat content
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Higher in omega-3 fatty acids
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Packed with more vitamins and minerals like vitamin E and beta carotene
It’s the total nutritional package, straight from the pasture.
Why Grass-Finished is the Real Game-Changer
Here’s where it gets tricky—and where we stand apart from most ranches in Texas.
A lot of beef out there can technically be called “grass-fed” under USDA guidelines, even if the cattle spend the last several months of their lives eating grain or soy-based feed. That’s because the USDA allows the label if the animal has eaten grass for the majority of its life. But the truth is, the finishing stage—those final months before processing—has a huge impact on the quality, nutrition, and flavor of the meat.
We believe in doing it right, all the way through. Our cattle are grass-finished, which means they eat nothing but grass and forage from start to finish—even in the colder months when pasture grass is harder to come by.
It’s not the cheapest or easiest way to raise cattle. In the winter, when the pastures aren’t lush, we feed our animals alfalfa and other stored grasses. This takes more planning and costs more than switching to grain, but the payoff is in the quality of the beef—and in staying true to our promise to you.
Why It Matters for You
When you choose grass-fed & finished, you’re choosing beef that’s:
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Consistent in flavor and texture year-round
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Higher in nutrients thanks to a steady grass diet
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Better for the environment because it supports pasture-based, regenerative agriculture
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Ethically raised—our cattle have room to roam, graze, and live as nature intended
You’re also supporting a pasture-raised, family-run operation that puts people before profit. We’re not cutting corners to save a buck—we’re raising the kind of beef we’d be proud to feed our own families.
Local Beef You Can Trust
From our ranch in Emory, Texas to our market booth in Frisco, TX, we’ve built our business on honesty, hard work, and quality. Our customers know they’re getting beef that’s been raised with care, without shortcuts or hidden steps.
When you bite into a Born & Raised steak, burger, or roast, you’re tasting beef the way it’s meant to be—clean, flavorful, and packed with nutrition. And because we’re local to DFW, your beef doesn’t travel halfway around the world to reach your table. It comes straight from our pasture to your kitchen, often within days of processing.
How to Spot the Real Thing
If you’re ever shopping for beef and want to make sure you’re getting the good stuff, here’s our advice:
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Look for the “grass-finished” label. This is the clearest indicator the animal was fed grass its entire life.
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Ask questions. Where was the beef raised? What did the cattle eat in the winter months?
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Buy from local producers when possible. Not only does this support your community, but it also gives you the chance to meet the folks raising your food.
When in doubt, talk to the rancher. You deserve to know what’s on your plate.
From Our Family to Yours
At Born & Raised, this isn’t just a business—it’s our way of life. We take pride in every calf born on our pastures, every bale of hay we store for winter, and every package of beef we hand over to our customers.
You’re not just buying meat—you’re joining us in a commitment to better food, healthier families, and stronger local communities.
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