Short answer: Not always. "Grass-fed" tells you the animal ate grass at some point - many cattle start on pasture and are moved to a grain ration for their final months. "Grass-finished" (or "100% grass-fed") means the animal ate grass and forage its whole life, right up to harvest. If the label only says grass-fed, ask how the animal was finished.
Grass-fed vs grass-finished vs grain-finished
| Grass-fed (label alone) | Grass-finished / 100% grass-fed | Grain-finished | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early life | Pasture | Pasture | Pasture |
| Final months | Grass or grain - the label alone does not say | Grass and forage only | Grain ration, usually in a feedlot |
| What to look for on the label | "Grass-finished" or "100% grass-fed" | Already says it | "Grain-finished" or no feeding claim |
How Carter does it: our beef is 100% grass-fed and grass-finished. Mature cows, four to eight years old, graze rangeland and irrigated pasture on Carter Ranch near Ten Sleep, Wyoming, from the end of winter through the whole grazing season.
Common questions
Does 100% grass-fed mean grass-finished?
Yes. "100% grass-fed" means the animal ate grass and forage for its whole life, which is the same thing as grass-finished. A plain "grass-fed" label without "100%" or "finished" may include grain at the end.
What is the difference between grass-fed and grain-finished beef?
Diet in the final months. Grain-finished cattle switch to a grain ration before harvest; grass-finished cattle stay on grass and forage. The difference shows up in the fat: a 2026 Journal of Animal Science study of 337 samples found an average omega-6:3 ratio of 8.28:1* in grain-finished beef. Our July 2026 ground beef sample tested at 1.82:1.
What does grass-fed meat mean?
Meat from an animal that ate grass for at least part of its life. It does not by itself tell you how the animal was finished - look for "grass-finished" or "100% grass-fed".
Is grain-finished beef bad?
It is a different product, not a bad one. Read more in Is grain-finished beef bad? Grass-finished vs grain-finished.
Taste it for yourself with our Beef Sampler Box, or shop all grass-fed beef.
* 8.28:1 is the average of 84 grain-finished ribeye samples (Varre, van Vliet et al., J. Anim. Sci. 2026). Carter's figure is from ground beef, a different cut.