The reality of grass finished and grain finished beef in Australia
It is estimated that up to 50% of Australian beef is finished on grain. With the remaining 50% being finished on grass.
What does mean?
Cattle finished on grain simply means their final days/weeks are spent in certified feedlots. The time spent in feedlots can vary depending on breed and desired outcomes in relation to the finished product (marbling and fat coverage). Time spent in feedlots can range from 35 days to 400 days (typically 50-120 days). The animals in feedlots are (unsurprisingly) fed grains typically a mixture of wheat, barley, sorghum, lupin and millet but not limited to these. Their feed and hydration is monitored in order to achieve an optimal weight for market, in the most efficient time.
The benefit to this practice is centred on controlling the feeding process and ultimately the weight-gain process of the animal. Feedlots mitigate the variables that exist in nature that could potentially thwart when the animal gets to optimal weight. Often are a number of steps addressed prior to leaving the paddock in a process called ‘back-grounding’ which ultimately helps their transition from paddock to feedlots. Elements considers are the social hierarchy of the beast and the shift in their diet. Back-grounding is often a time when cattle are vaccinated against the increased risk of bacterial cross-contamination in the feedlot environment. The inability for the beast to move freely together with the lack of vegetation under hoof means that the faeces and urine are now potential hazards rather than an asset as seen in the regenerative model.
During induction the identification, weighing and vaccinations are carried out as well as drenching and tipping of horns if required. Some feedlots will use a hormone growth promotant depending upon company policy and market specifications.
The tighter control on variables means that grain-fed cattle are generally more consistent in supply, as well as more consistent with their marbling, fat coverage, weight and quantity of cuts. This is good news for most consumers who are accustomed to a particular look, taste and feel of their beef, both domestically and internationally.
Given that most of our homegrown beef ends up in international markets (USA, UK, JAPAN, CHINA etc) it’ll take more than a shift of expectations by Joe Blow, it’ll be a global shift. This won’t occur overnight or in my lifetime, feedlots are here to stay, for now. But what I do forecast occurring in my lifetime is the intrigue/curiosity in regenerative farming heating up in Australia ultimately influencing producers to learn into more holistic land and cattle management.
The result of this is improved animal welfare (more natural paddock time) increased carbon sequestration and better soil ecology.
For more information on regenerative agriculture head to www.thegoodfarm.shop
Subscribe to Blog Updates
You may also like
Can You Lose Weight While Not Eating for a Week?
Depleting your physiology of the nutrients, vitamins and minerals for an extended period of time is potentially harmful and there are some much safer, and less unpleasant methods to use. Losing weight can be the bane of someone’s existence and can be intricate and complex but there are some fundamental principles that apply to all of us – the intricacies and complexities are primarily the psychological barriers, self-sabotage and proclivities to certain behaviours around food – but it’s all workable.
Anouk’s Birth with Matilda Brown
How Anouk come into the world. I don’t tell this story to scare anyone. I tell it because it was my experience and one I want to share. Birthing is so unique. We get through it in whatever way we can. No one’s way of doing it is the right way or the wrong way or a strong way or a weak way.
The role of soil in the health of the planet
Soil is bloody amazing!! I devoted a recent blog post to the role of soil in regenerating the land – see here: But I wanted to revisit soil as it’s such a phenomenal living organism which harbours more organisms than all the rainforests on the planet combined..ever! Rhizobacteria (bacterial microbes) work in synergy with […]