Dig Deeper

  • Pasture-raised animals are raised outdoors on pasture, with access to fresh grass and managed grazing systems that support both animal health and land health.

    • Grass-fed refers to what the animal eats (primarily grass and forage)

    • Pasture-raised refers to how the animal lives (outdoors, on pasture)

    Most Vermont farmers are doing both.

  • Pasture-raised meat often:

    • Has a deeper red color

    • Has yellow fat (from nutrients in grass)

    • Tastes richer or more “beefy”

    These are signs of a different diet and lifestyle—not lower quality.

  • Grass-fed animals develop less intramuscular fat than grain-fed animals.

    That means:

    • Faster cooking times

    • More attention needed when cooking (don’t overcook!)

  • Simple adjustments make a big difference:

    • Cook at slightly lower temperatures

    • Avoid overcooking

    • Let meat rest before cutting

    Once you get the hang of it, many people prefer it.

  • No—in many cases, frozen meat is better preserved.

    Freezing locks in freshness, especially when meat is processed locally and frozen quickly.

  • It reflects a different farming system:

    • Smaller-scale farms

    • More land and labor per animal

    • No shortcuts with feed or confinement

    You’re paying for quality, transparency, and long-term sustainability.

  • When managed well, pasture-based systems can:

    • Improve soil health

    • Reduce erosion

    • Increase water absorption

    • Support biodiversity

    There’s still ongoing research—especially around carbon—but many of the land and water benefits are well established.

  • Cattle do produce methane, and that’s part of the conversation.

    At the same time, well-managed grazing systems can:

    • Build soil carbon

    • Improve ecosystem function

    • Help landscapes better handle extreme weather

    It’s not a simple yes/no issue—but how animals are raised matters.

  • It depends.

    Many plant-based products rely on large-scale monocrop agriculture, which also has environmental impacts.

    Pasture-raised livestock often use land that can’t be cropped and can play a role in healthy ecosystems.

  • Often, yes.

    One of the benefits of buying locally is being able to connect directly with the people raising your food.

    → Meet Our Farmers
    → Find a Farmer Near You

What is grass farming?

(raising livestock on pasture - focusing on the health of the whole ecosystem - soil health, forage health, animal health and the interplay with wildlife and ecosystem impact) 

What is rotational grazing?

(very short description of moving animals - set up for the next question)

Why is it important to move animals in a thoughtful way across a pasture instead of just letting them roam a large area at will?

(more detail about the benefits of moving animals if a planned system - motivation - to help people more deeply understand rotation vs set stock - this is nuanced and might be to much but I think people don't know what they don't know and these details do matter to us and are a big part of shifting farmers mindsets about pastureing animals)

Is purchasing products from grassfed animals really a good thing?

(much of the answer to this very complicated question will come from the handout we already created)

How do I know if the products I purchase are from animals raised responsibly on pastures?

(this response will be about connecting with a local grass based farmer and touch on the certifications in larger markets - and the issue with USDA Product of the USA problem - grassfed from other countries being labeled as Product of the USA. This will lead to the Find a Grassfarmer function of the website.)