The first cows we purchased were in 2009 from Northern Missouri. They were from a PCC Cooperator Herd that needed to cut some numbers. PCC (Pharo Cattle Company) is a website I would suggest you take a look at and really soak up the information they have available.  Here are the 3 top areas that we find so important; breeding for cattle that fit their environment, low maintenance, and fertile.  Almost all of the breeding bulls we use are purchased from PCC.  Our herd is comprised of red and black angus.  Small framed, fine boned, and fat are a few descriptors commonly used with our cows.  You may wonder why fine boned is mentioned.  When buying meat, you buy the bones in it also. Fine boned translates into more meat per cut, quarter, half, or if you’re really hungry, a whole beef. From early May to October/November the cow herd is moved daily with the use of temporary fence. Paddock sizes vary day to day, depending on weather and cattle needs. Calving generally starts in May and ends in June. The calves are fun to just sit back and watch most nights. They will race around, jump, wildly kicking in the air trying to out-do each other. November/December to April the cow herd is moved to a “sacrifice” pasture. With the temperature swings and excess moisture, we find mud is inevitable. Cows can do a lot of good when properly managed. If left to their own, can also be extremely destructive.  The “sacrifice pasture" is usually picked depending on fertility needs of the soil.  Areas that may not grow very well really benefit from having cattle fertilize it all winter.  If there isn’t an area that needs that kind of treatment, we select an area that provides relief from the wind and a good supply of water. When the cows are removed in spring, an annual grass is planted to jump start the year and we wait and see what else will pop up with it.  Again, stop out and take a walk with us. There is so much to see and discuss. 

Goats were introduced as a way to keep our overgrown timbers in check.  To our delight and dismay, at times the goat herd continues to grow.  They make me laugh and have made my wife cry.  Progressive browsing and a curious nature have tested the fences and my patience on a regular basis.  The motley crew is an ensemble of Dairy, Pygmy, Kiko, Boer, and Gene Master breeds.  We are in the process of converting to Kiko only.  Excellent mothers, fast growing kids, and parasite resistance (second to none) is why we gravitate to them.  

OUR DUCKS

Cornish Rock and Freedom Rangers are the 2 breeds that spend time with us, each spring.  Raised on grass with non-GMO feed and moved daily make these guys luxury chickens.  Slow grown with a steady diet of bugs make their meat dense and packed with flavor.  Compare our's to any grocery store chicken and I am sure you will be able to see and taste the difference.  

Chickens produce blue, green, brown, and white eggs by the dozens each day.  These chickens are raised down the road from us by Schwell Chicks.  Free ranged and fed a mix of non-GMO grains.  The egg yokes are very rich in color, delicious, and nutritious.  These eggs are sure to please.

Steers are weened off their mothers around December.  Depending on the weather conditions, they will go either to an isolated pasture or pen.  Given quality hay that is grown here and a small amount of locally sourced non-GMO corn, these calves grow.  As pasture conditions improve in early spring, the calves are moved out of their winter home to fresh pastures.  Pastured and provided a small amount of aforementioned corn is what these calves will finish on.  No feed lot finishing, no by-products, fillers, concentrates, antibiotics, hormones, or implants here.  Just good old fashion beef.  Anything that these calves eat, I would eat. 

Our grass fed selection comes from the cow herd.  Open heifers and 2-4 year old pig fat cows that have failed to reproduce is the criteria we use to fill this need.  Being a bit older, the meat, without a doubt has a much beefier flavor.  The first 3 year old that we had was an eye opening experience.  Give it a try and I do not think you will be disappointed.