22/08/2025
This is a great explanation of the complex side to understanding ‘grassfed’ beef in Australia.
Even if you’re in other countries - there’s relevant information to take in. Grassfed doesn’t have to be grassfed!
I only recently came to know that grassfed beef from Woolworths (and probably others) can actually be fed grain - just not raised in feedlots.
Get to know your farmers, support butchers who support farmers who are transparent!
A long answer to a short question (repeated so often across Social Media groups):
“Where can I buy Local, Grassfed beef?”
We see this so often it’s becoming annoying (more annoying reading uninformed responses) so I probably overdid this! Too good to waste…
“Anonymous member…
So if you are on a mission to learn stuff- we see lots of these sorts of posts so there is a lot of information around- most of it needs a bit of investigation though as customers sometimes don’t ask the right questions and suppliers don’t bother correcting them so Chinese whispers get going.
Grassfed: There is a national standard for “Grassfed” called PCAS- many supplementary animal feed pellets & meals fed to “Grassfed” cattle in paddock feeders are actually grain - so it helps to have a “standard” to work with for those producers who are unaware whats allowed.
Many “Grassfed” beef suppliers buy cattle from others or the Saleyard (rather than breeding them) with no idea of their history (also not allowed under PCAS- must have traceability to show lifetime feeding history).
Organic: Labels like “without the nasties” means nothing as what’s a “nasty”? Chemical free and even “Organic” can be legally used on meat & produce from chemically treated animals, land or crops.
Label has to say “Certified Organic” and should state a certification body & / or number - that’s if you actually want no synthetics at all in the production (that extends to the processing/cutup facility/butcher shop).
Just to make it more confusing - “Certified Organic” animsls can legally be supplemented with organic grain- hence not Grassfed- unless that’s stated. Same goes for vaccines- allowed where deemed necessary - so don’t assume- ASK!
“Grassfed” can be from animals ir land dunked in poison (and often is) so doesn’t in any way mean produced without poison or Organic - so don’t assume- ASK!
This all sounds confusing (the reason most consumers just buy from the supermarket and don’t bother asking)- so talking to the actual farmer (not the butcher -unless he bred the animals) and asking hard questions about stuff like drought feeding, parasite management, vaccinating, “weed” control and so on is what you need to do if you are really interested. FB posts generally are completely mis-informed or misleading!
So back to the original statement- K2 Organic Beef is entirely Grassfed & Finished AND Certified Organic- and we have an open door to discuss any of this”.
(Forgot to mention- of course the herbs used in sausages have to be Certified Organic or allowable inputs (salt) and we don’t use sausage filler/meals but that would also have to be from an Organic supply).
