| What does GrassFed mean vs. Grass Finished? These definitions have not been defined by the USDA AMS office. Therefore they are open to intrepretation. A good resource is the American Grassfed Association Standards.
GRASSFED
Our interpretation is that grassfed means that over 80% of the animal's growing diet has been forage based. Course grains should not be used and are discouraged. Grazing standing corn before maturity is accepted. Small grains are often mixed in the forage ration at up 20% of the animals diet.
GRASS FINISHED
Grass finished means that the last 90 days prior to harvest the animal has been on a 99% or greater forage diet consisting of pastured grass, haylage, silage, or balage with no grain.
What do I do during times of forage (drought) and winter deficit?
High quality hay, sockpiled grasses, forages, are essential. Energy during winter is essential. Test hay for sugar levels with BRIX. Use high quality hay. Supplementation with a small amount of small grains like flax is often done to keep the animal gaining. Do what is humane for the animal to keep them healthy without using mature grains. However, if the animal is going backwards it may not have the phenotype for grass finishing. We recommend removing that animal from your grassfed operation and replacing it with genetics that work.
FACTS About Organic Livestock Feed
All agricultural products used for feed or feed ingredients including pastures must be certified organic to be respective program. Vitamins and Minerals are allowed for enrichment when the FDA approved (as listed in AFCO). All other feed additives must be of a natural source or undergone only mechanical, physical, biological/enzymatic, and/or microbial (i.e. fermentation) processes. (chemo-synthetic processing extraction, etc. is prohibited). Feed and feed supplements produced through genetic modification are prohibited. Any feed product containing manure or urea is prohibited. Synthetic/artifical appetizers, colorants, preservatives, antibiotics, hormones, growth promoters, growth stimulants are prohibited. (OCIA Certification of Organic Livestock, 2005)
Not sure if your cattle will work with grass finishing? call us at 605-638-0748. We can refer you to the right seedstock producers, organic resources, and beef livestock specialists that can help you. | 
