We’ve said it before and we will say it again: the quality of your meat depends on the quality of its diet. It’s only natural that it would be that way. If you think about it, you want the highest quality meat for the same reason you would want the animals you eat to have the best quality diet during the course of their natural life: because it will develop healthier, lean muscle that is full of nutrients. 

This is particularly true if you are somewhat athletic or trying to be. 
That being the case, it is important to make sure that you pay close attention to and become selective about the type of meat you buy and eat.

In this article, we explore and answer the age-old question: is corn and grass meat really better for you?

What are your options?

There are lots of options to choose from. We have touched on them in some of our other blogs, but to remind you, the best options are: 

  • Organic 
  • Free range 
  • Grass-fed
  • Corn-fed 

There are options that combine several of the above qualities. The best option will of course be an organic free-range, grass-fed option, but this will be expensive and quite hard to find. This is because the cost, time, and space required to grow such meat make it infeasible for farmers to make this a mainstream option. 

Organic meat itself is a great option, followed by free-range products. But, equally as important is choosing animals that have been fed natural and healthy diets regardless of whether they are organic or free range. This is where grass-fed and corn-fed options are really important. 

Must read: Organic Meat vs Non-Organic Meat, Is There A Difference?

Grass-fed Angus Cowboy Steak
Grass-fed Angus Cowboy Steak
Grass-Fed HMC Angus Beef Mince
Grass-Fed HMC Angus Beef Mince

What is the difference between grass-fed and corn-fed meat? 

Well, the obvious difference is that one is fed grass and the other is fed corn. But, what does this mean for the animals and their meat? 

Corn is a high-carbohydrate food, and thus corn-fed meat will be higher in carbohydrates than grass-fed meat. If you are trying to build muscle, then corn-fed meat may be a better option for you, as it will also be higher in protein. Corn-fed meat will also be higher in fats because not all of the additional carbohydrates will be burnt off, so it will be converted to fat. This adds to the meat’s flavour quite noticeably. 

Grass-fed meat is much leaner, so not as rich in flavour, but the trade-off is in its nutrient profile. If you are looking to lose weight, grass-fed meat is likely the better option because grass-fed beef is considered as lean as skinless chicken. This makes grass-fed meat a better option for those concerned about heart health. 

Grass-fed meat is generally rich in the following nutrients: 

  • Vitamine E
  • Vitamin B12 and B6
  • Selenium
  • Iron
  • Zinc
  • Omega 3 
  • Conjugated Linoleic Acid 
  • Antioxidants

Grass-fed animals are much healthier and happier animals. They have evolved to consume grass, which provides them with the enzymes they need for digestion and the nutrients to aid their development. 

It is also much better for the environment because grass-fed animals produce less methane because there is much less starch in their diet. Methane is a major contributor to climate change, more so than all modes of transportation combined. Also, grass requires much less water to grow than corn and other grain that are typically grown to fatten animals quickly. 

All in all, grass-fed animals are a much better option than corn-fed for your health and the planet, but both are better than animals grown on regular feed such as soybeans. This is especially true if the animals are grass-fed for their entire lives, not just the beginning. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. 

So, is grass and corn-fed meat really better? Well, if you want to make a positive impact on your health and the world, then grass-fed is the way to go because it is far more sustainable. Corn-fed is also very good as it provides a rich flavour and nutrient profile, but it does cost the planet a lot more because of the extra water and other resources needed to grow corn. 

Halal Origins has a full range of organic meat, and we are developing a range of free-range products that will only be fed grass or corn, so you have the best of both.

Check out our other blogs to learn more about organic and free-range products, and don’t forget to try our fresh Halal meat that comes directly from our farmers, and we deliver it straight to your door.