Several studies point to the health benefits of grass-fed beef, as distinguished from cattle raised on corn-based feed. In addition to having higher levels of “good fats” such as omega-3’s and conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs), grass-fed beef has significantly less fat and calories.

Grass-fed beef also avoids some of the health concerns associated with cattle fed on grain. The outbreak of mad cow disease in Europe in the 1990s was caused by grain that was mixed with meat-and-bonemeal from contaminated cows.

Grass-fed beef is even be better for the environment. Because fewer cows can be kept on a pasture, farms that raise grass-fed beef tend to be smaller and less polluting. In addition, the mass production of corn necessary to provide grain for industrial cow farms produces serious emissions in the form of harvesting and transportation.