Australian beef and lamb 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 alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) found in grasses into long chain omega-3 fatty acids and the levels found in Australian red meat 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 season and region of production.
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 they are grain-based will vary.