What Does Grass-Fed Beef Mean in Canada?

If you’ve shopped for beef or beef jerky recently, you’ve probably seen the term “grass-fed” everywhere. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most misunderstood labels in the food world — especially in Canada.

At Carzan, we believe transparency matters more than marketing buzzwords. So here’s a clear, honest explanation of what grass-fed beef actually means in Canada, what it doesn’t mean, and why we choose to label our products the way we do.

What “Grass-Fed” Really Means

In Canada, grass-fed beef means cattle are raised on a forage-based diet, which includes:

• grass
• hay
• silage
• other forage crops

For our products, all animals are fed a forage-only diet for at least 120+ days before harvest, with many being finished entirely on grass. That forage-based approach is what defines grass-fed beef — not marketing slogans or imagery.

Grass-Fed vs Grass-Finished: What’s the Difference?

This is where things often get confusing.

• Grass-fed means cattle eat a forage-based diet.
• Grass-finished typically means cattle are finished on pasture right up to harvest.

In reality, finishing methods can vary depending on:

• geography
• season
• weather
• feed availability

Some cattle may finish on pasture, while others finish on preserved forages like hay or alfalfa silage, especially in Canadian climates. These are still forage-based feeds, but not fresh pasture grass.

Because not every animal finishes the same way, we choose to use the term grass-fed rather than switching between grass-fed and grass-finished — simply to avoid misleading customers.

But, it is also important to note that over 90% of Canadian beef is GRAIN FINISHED! Just because it ate grass once in its life, does not make it grass-fed!

And this is where you need to be careful with the "Grass-Fed" label, as there are a lot of companies that are greenwashing products with this label. Companies like A&W, who's requirements for Grass-fed beef went from 120 days on forage, to just 15 days on forage to be considered Grass-fed. Which allows them to be finished on grain, put on hay or silage for two weeks and then harvested.

For Carzan, clarity always comes before claims.

Why We Don’t Overcomplicate the Label

You’ll see some brands jump between terms, or use vague language that sounds impressive but isn’t well explained.

We don’t do that.

We label our products grass-fed because:

• it’s accurate
• it reflects real feeding practices
• it avoids confusion
• it stays consistent across our products

We would rather be honest and clear than push a claim that doesn’t apply to 100% of our supply.

Why Grass-Fed Beef Matters

Grass-fed beef is often chosen because it:

• fits a more natural feeding model
• aligns with regenerative ranching practices
• supports soil health and land management
• provides a nutrient-dense protein source

For many people, it’s also about knowing how their food was raised, not just what it tastes like.

Where Our Beef Comes From

Carzan started using 100% beef raised on our own ranch. As demand grew, we expanded beyond what our farm alone could supply.

Today, our grass-fed beef comes from trusted regenerative ranchers across the Canadian Prairies, including some beef that still comes from our own ranch and returns to us through the same federally inspected packing facility.

This allows us to:

• maintain quality
• uphold our sourcing values
• grow responsibly without cutting corners

Why This Matters for Jerky

Beef jerky concentrates everything in the meat — flavour, protein, and quality included.

Starting with grass-fed beef means we can create jerky that:

• tastes better
• works with simple ingredient lists
• doesn’t rely on heavy processing or additives
• fits cleaner eating styles

It’s the foundation for everything else we do.

The Bottom Line

Grass-fed beef in Canada isn’t about hype — it’s about feeding practices, transparency, and trust.

At Carzan, we choose clear language, consistent definitions, and honest sourcing so you always know what you’re eating and where it comes from.

If you ever have questions about our ingredients or sourcing, we’re happy to answer them — because good food should never be confusing.