We raise animals our animals to butchered for sale to friends, family and our faithful customers. We primarily grow Holstein steers, purchased from a family diary farm in Marne MI. Our calves come to us around 250-300 lbs. All are male and have been de-horned and on feed. Our cows are sorted into three groups, small, medium and a finishing group. The small cows are feed ground ear corn, straw and
hay. They are on this program for about 3 months from when we get them. This is a critical time in their lives as they are transitioning from their farm of birth to a new farm. From time to time, they must be given medication for this transition. This is also a time of transition in diet as they start on ear corn which gives them the protein and energy they need to grow. Straw and hay help regulate their stomachs. Like us, they need fiber for a healthy diet
After a period of around three months, they are moved to the next pen. This is where they transition to a 50/50 feed of ground ear corn and shelled corn. Hay is removed from the diet as hay will affect the corn being digested in the stomach as it is rich with protein. The cows are given a bail of straw a day for their fiber needs as well as bedding. The are given a trace mineral to assist in their bodies mineral needs. Again after around 3-4 months, the largest are moved to a finishing pin. We usually only move the largest at first. This gives the smaller ones so time to grow with less pressure of bigger cows around. Remember cows are like people; we all grow differently than others and have different temperament than others. Finally the cows are moved to the finishing pin. This is the last stage in our process. Here the cows are on a 75% shelled corn, 25% ground ear corn diet. By this time, the cows have been with us for 6-8 months and are approaching finishing weight. They are given a bay of straw a day for fiber and bedding. For years, we try to butcher the first Saturday of each month at noon. This is a good schedule for us, the customers and the butcher. It is the least stressful way for a cow to be put down. They are moved gently to a pin out side of the barn and before they know it, it is over. When a cow is under stress and is nervous, it floods its body with hormones to combat its surroundings.This makes meat tough and tainted. They never experience this stress when butchered on the farm. Over my time, I would say I have farm dressed around 700 cows. This is by far the least stressful way for a animal to be butchered. Couple of things for you to know.
1. All our cows come from same farm, ensuring good strong healthy animals that will exceed for us.
2. All our cows are boys, girls get milked.
3. I have been on the same feed program for over 15 years, ensures continued quality and consistency.
4. Our cows are given no implants, injections or growth hormones. Just not needed or something we want to do. Remember, we eat this meat to and we want the best!
5. Our cows are not pastured; they are in our barn and an outside pen.Our system is not built for that. We do not have enough land for that many cows to graze and truthfully the land is too expense to farm that style around here.
7. Are cows are not organic fed. We may be looking into this and grass feed beef in the future on a limited basis but just does not work for us now.
8. We butcher every month; this allows our customers to be able to plan and purchase meat without having to go to the store. We recommend certain processors for the meat. I like to say that I work to hard raising the best beef I can to have a guy ruin it for you in an hour!
9. I have had the same butcher for many years. What is good about that is he is monthly seeing what I am doing and the tweaks that can be done to make our product better. This is a valuable tool to me.
11. Our cows on average are 14-17 months old when butchered.
10. We love farming! We do not take short cuts and this is our way of enjoying the creation God has entrusted to us to feed ourselves. We pour a lot of time and energy into making it the best we can. We enjoy what we do and love raising our kids up on a farm!
