In Australia, cattle and sheep are predominantly grassfed and account for approximately two-thirds of overall beef and sheepmeat production. Grain-feeding is typically limited to short periods depending on climatic conditions and market requirements.
Ruminants convert the alpha-linolenic acid found in grasses into long chain omega-3 fatty acids and levels found in Australian beef and lamb are largely determined by the quality of the pasture.
Grassfed meat comes from animals that have only grazed on grass. They feed on a range of different types of grasses, depending on climate and region.
Grainfed meat comes from animals which are fed grass for most of their lives and then transition to grain-based diets for the remainder of their lives. The number of days during which they are fed a grain-based diet varies.