The reason why organic beef is so expensive is because producing organic beef has higher production costs as well as a smaller market supply.
Producing organic beef requires more labor, land and time and the animals are not treated with any hormones or antibiotics which leads to slower growth and potentially higher mortality rates of the cows.
In addition, the demand for organic beef can exceed the supply and further drive up the price.
Although organic beef is sometimes not bought by as many people as non organic beef which also can drive up the cost.
The more of the product they can sell the lower the price they can charge in some cases.
Organic farmers also have to ensure that their animals are raised on pasture, which takes more time and space to manage.
And because organic beef is not treated with antibiotics or hormones it can lead to slow growth rates of the cows when compared to traditional beef, which also means that it takes longer for the cows to reach their market rate and it also increases the production cost of the organic beef.
Organic feed, like certified organic grass and grains is also often more expensive than non organic feed, which further increases the cost of the production of organic beef and increases the sale price of the organic beef.
Organic farming for organic beef also practices as well as prioritizes welfare of the cows, which can also involve more stringent requirements for the welfare of the cows and handling of them, which leads to higher costs.
And the demand for organic beef is often high as well and the supply can be limited, which creates a price premium for organic beef.