Grass-fed beef and dairy are seemingly more popular than ever though its less of a trend than a revival of traditional farming practices, including those of Indigenous populations around the world whove long understood the benefits of grazing animals.

And there are a number of reasons, from climate change to animal welfare to flavor , to make the switch from buying products from conventionally raised cows if you can afford to. But is there a difference when it comes to nutrition? Is grass-fed beef and dairy really that much healthier for us than grain-fed?

The short answer is yes. Cows are meant to eat grass, not corn, so theyre naturally healthier when they do. But how much so can vary wildly, depending on the nuances of the farming practices. What exactly a cow eats grass is an umbrella term for a diverse variety of forages including chicory, clover and legumes and how they eat and move around the pasture can change the nutritional profile of both their meat and dairy.

Plus, healthy cows on healthy pastures require less antibiotics (commonly used in feedlots), the residue of which can make it into the meat .

But the most studied nutritional difference in grass-fed versus grain-fed beef and dairy is its fatty acid composition specifically, the ratio of pro-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids to heart-healthy omega-3s. The lower the ratio, the healthier the food.

Grass-fed beef and dairy have a more favorable ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids.

A 2019 study at Michigan State University found that grass-fed beef, depending on the management practices, tends to have a lower omega-6 to omega-3 ratio close to 2:1 on average compared to conventional corn-fed beef, which hovers around 15:1.