Grass Fed
Even before that USDA dropped their regulation of the grass-fed label in 2016,[1] the designation had only to do with feeding and did not prohibit routine cruelties such as dehorning, castration, harsh living conditions, rough handling, and lack of veterinary care, and no on-site inspection was required,[2] and animals were still slaughtered at an early age.
Now, without even a definition of grass-fed provided by the USDA, producers are free to use the label no matter how much grass an animal has been fed. The designation is virtually meaningless.
A strong verified standard
The USDA-regulated grass fed label in the United States requires that the bovine is fed grass their entire life. The designation has only to do with feeding and does not prohibit routine cruelties, such as dehorning, castration, confinement, harsh living conditions, rough handling, and lack of veterinary care.
Enforcement is weak,[3] and the animals are still slaughtered at an early age.[4]
