Grass-fed vs. Grass-finished
There is a difference. The term “finished” in stockmen’s terms means that the animal has grown to the point where it has slowed its growth enough that it can put on fat. A finished animal has at least a light cover of fat over the back and hind quarters. For an animal to properly finish it must be gaining well and this fat is the proof. The animal must consume the highest quality forage for it to finish. If the feed is of poor quality then the animal will not grow properly nor will it lay on fat.
Grass-fed is just that. The animal has eaten grass. This grass could be old, moldy and dry. It can be of poor nutritional value. The term grass-fed does not address whether the animal is finished. Grass-fed only denotes what the animal ate. An old, poor-doing cow eating moldy hay can be rightfully termed grass-fed but she would not be properly termed grass-finished.