Why do cows eat grain?

Question

I live in australia where alot and I mean alot of meat is produced by cows grazing in pastures on grass, never in my life have I eaten grain meat, what is the difference between grain cows and grass cows.

Answer 1

Being herbivore.

Answer 2

The tenderness of the meat is dependent on the rate at which a cow gains weight(the faster the more tender).Grass (fertilized) has only about 7% protien and little carbo.'s while grain (cotton seed meal) can have 21% protien + carb.s which increases weight gain and tenderness.All a grass fed stear in the US is fit for is ground meat.

Answer 3

I'm not sure, it's a hamburger either way!

Answer 4

I don't know how the meat compares as I live in the UK and pretty much all of our beef is at least partly (if not wholly) grain-fed, mostly because our weather conditions don't suit beef cattle being over-wintered on grass.

Some of our cows are over-wintered outside but not our 'fat stock' (i.e., the ones to be eaten).

Answer 5

Grain increases the marbling (fat) in the meat. Fat is what carries flavor best so increasing the fat in the meat makes the meat tastier. Grain also changes the flavor of the beef. Many people find that when switching between grass fed and grain fed, the meat tastes odd until you get used to it. Even grass fed beef sold in the US, generally, is finished on grain at the end because the US palate is programmed to like the grain fed tast. I think i also read something about grain vs grass as to the ratio of omega 3 & 6 in the beef but i can't recall it right now. The implication was that the grass fed was better for you.

Answer 6

to make milk inside their body