It is suggested that intensively farmed beef has a lower climate impact than free range, but the jury is still out.

Intensively farmed beef requires lower land use and involves feed which does not induce so much methane. On the other hand the Soil Association suggests that organically farmed grasslands could not only improve soil condition and water retention but also store carbon and counterbalance the methane impacts of beef and lamb farming. While the debate continues there are ethical and health reasons for choosing high welfare, organic, free range, pasture raised meat.