Our Cows, Your Meat: Grass-Fed Beef Explained

At Farm2Fork, just outside Budleigh Salterton, we believe great beef starts long before it reaches your plate. It begins with how our cattle live, what they eat, and how the land beneath their feet is cared for.

Our approach is simple. Healthy animals, thriving on healthy land, produce better food. It is better for flavour, better for nutrition, and better for the wider environment.

What does “grass-fed” really mean?

In the UK, the term “grass-fed” is not tightly regulated, which means it can sometimes be used in ways that are confusing or misleading.

For us, it is very clear. Our cattle are fed a 100% grass and forage-based diet for their entire lives once weaned.

From that point on, their diet is made up of fresh grass during the growing season, and conserved forage such as hay or silage during the winter months. We never feed grain.

This approach reflects what cattle are naturally evolved to eat and aligns with leading welfare and sustainability standards, ensuring the food we produce is as honest as it is nourishing.

Grazing with nature, not against it

Our cattle are managed using a rotational grazing system, moving daily across our pastures rather than staying in one place.

This ensures they always have access to fresh, leafy grass, which supports their health and well-being. At the same time, the land is given time to rest and recover before it is grazed again.

Over time, this builds stronger root systems, improves soil structure, and increases the land’s ability to hold water. In practical terms, that means our pastures are better able to cope with both dry spells and heavy rainfall.

It is a simple system, but one that works with natural cycles rather than against them.

Better for the animal, better for the meat

The way our cattle are raised has a direct impact on the quality of the beef.

Our animals live outdoors, moving freely as a herd and expressing their natural behaviours. This low-stress environment is not only better for welfare, it also plays an important role in the eating quality of the meat.

Beef from grass-fed systems is naturally rich in nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E and beta-carotene. It also tends to have a more distinctive flavour, shaped by the diverse grasses and herbs found in our pastures.

Because our cattle grow at their own pace, without grain feeding or artificial inputs, the texture of the meat develops differently too. It is firm, well-structured, and full of character, especially noticeable in slower-cooked cuts where time brings out depth and richness.

A food system worth supporting

Choosing grass-fed, pasture-raised beef is about more than what is on your plate.

It supports a way of farming that prioritises animal welfare, builds healthier soils, and works in balance with the natural environment. It is a system focused on long-term resilience rather than short-term gain.

For us, that connection between land, animal and food is at the heart of everything we do.

When you choose Farm2Fork beef, you are not just buying meat. You are backing a way of farming that is built to last, from our fields to your fork.