Soil and pasture health underlie improved beef nutrient density determined by untargeted metabolomics in Southern U.S. grass finished beef systems

Authors: AHSIN, MUHAMMAD - Utah State University; POORE, MATT - North Carolina State University; ROGERS, JOHNNY - North Carolina State University; Kronberg, Scott; Franzluebbers, Alan; YOUNG, SIERRA - Utah State University; PROVENZA, FRED - Utah State University; BAIN, JAMES - Duke University; VAN VLIET, STEPHAN - Utah State University

Submitted to: NPJ Science of Food
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/31/2025
Publication Date: 7/24/2025
Citation: Ahsin, M., Poore, M., Rogers, J., Kronberg, S.L., Franzluebbers, A.J., Young, S., Provenza, F., Bain, J., Van Vliet, S. 2025. Soil and pasture health underlie improved beef nutrient density determined by untargeted metabolomics in Southern U.S. grass finished beef systems. NPJ Science of Food. 9. Article 151. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-025-00471-2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-025-00471-2

Interpretive Summary: There is interest in practices that can improve beef healthfulness and improve the soil-plant-animal-human health continuum. We compared soil, plant, and meat samples of US grass- and grain-fed beef systems to study effects on soil health, forage phytochemical richness, and meat nutritional composition. Forage, feed and meat samples were analyzed for nutritional composition. Soil samples were analyzed for total organic matter and minerals. Out of 784 profiled compounds, 165 were different between grass-fed and grain-fed ribeye steaks. Phenolic content, which can include antioxidant or anti-inflammatory compounds, was over 3times higher in grass-fed beef compared to grain-fed beef. This was linked to higher levels of phenolic compounds in forage, averaging over 118times higher than the feedlot total mixed rations (TMR). We also found almost 3 and over 4 times higher levels of vitamins A and E in the grass-fed vs grain-fed beef samples, respectively. Carotene and vitamin E were 2 and 5 times higher, respectively, in the forage compared to the TMR. The higher antioxidant/phytochemical richness of the meat appeared to benefit animal health, which was reflected in meat biomarkers. Urate, an antioxidant, was 2 times higher in grass-fed beef while 4-hydroxynonenal glutathione, a compound indicating poorer metabolic health, was over 2 times higher in grain-fed beef. Similarly, homocysteine, an inflammatory marker, was almost 2.5 times higher in grain-fed beef. Soils in pastures were generally healthier compared to paired croplands. Soil organic matter was higher in the pasture soil (6.36%) than in cropland soil (4.49%). Various minerals, including potassium, phosphorus, calcium, selenium, and zinc, were over 1.5 to almost 3 times higher in the pasture soil samples. But cropland soils contained 1.2 to 2.5 times higher amounts of aluminum, cobalt, and manganese. Our findings suggest that improved soil health in pastures may improve forage phytochemical richness, likely resulting in improved animal health and greater nutrient density in grass-fed beef. This work provides initial evidence of cascading beneficial effects along the soil-plant-animal-human nutrition continuum.

Technical Abstract: As concerns regarding beef production on human and environmental health increase, interest in sustainable practices has grown. This study compared soil, plant, and meat samples from three Southern US grass-fed beef systems to a paired grain-fed beef system to assess soil health, forage phytochemical richness, and meat nutritional composition. Soil samples from pasturelands had 1.4 times higher organic matter and 1.7- to 3.0-fold higher levels of minerals like potassium, phosphorus, and calcium compared to paired feed croplands. Grass-fed beef contained 3.1-fold higher phytochemical antioxidants than grain-fed beef, resulting from a 118.2-fold higher phytochemical content in forage. Vitamins A and E in grass-fed beef were also 2.9- and 4.2-fold higher, respectively. Urate levels were 2.0-fold higher in grass-fed samples, while homocysteine and 4-hydroxynonenal glutathione, associated with reduced metabolic health, were elevated in grain-fed samples. The study provides evidence of the beneficial effects of grass-fed beef systems along the soil-plant-animal-human nutrition continuum.