Our Cattle are Grass Fed Only! Why?

We've learned that the current standards of raising cattle are a little backwards. The standard model puts cattle in a feedlot and feeds them grains for quick weight gain. They stand or lay around in dirt, mud, and manure, are often given antibiotics, not only because they are sick, but also to stimulate their appetites so that they eat more grain and gain more weight faster. That's not natural and it's not healthy for them or for you and your family. It is extremely energy intensive (read "wasteful") and so is terrible not only for them and you, but also for the only planet we have to give to our children and grandchildren.

In the other standard model, the cattle are given free range over a wide area to browse, and are basically ignored until it is time to go to the feedlot. Like you or I, if given the opportunity, they will eat mostly the "sweets" and leave lots of the good, nutritious stuff behind. That's not healthy for them, for the fields, or for you and your family, either. And it too is wasteful.

Cattle have four stomachs. That is why they can eat and thrive on grasses, forbs, and wild legumes. They are SUPPOSED to eat grasses, legumes, and a broad selection of what we commonly call "weeds" or "wildflowers". That's why the cattle are there and that's why all of those grasses, legumes, and weeds are there.

Think for a moment of how herds of wild herbivores behave. Think of the bison of the Great Plains, or the elk of the tundra, or the wildebeest of the African savannas. They cluster together (for protection from predators), virtually "mow" an area of whatever is on it, and then move to the place next to it, and continue this across the fields. This is how Nature has raised lean, healthy animals and grown healthy fields for eons. And this is how mankind herded his cattle, sheep, goats, and such, keeping them grouped and controlled and protected with dogs and horses, until relatively recently. After we invented cheap, easily installed fencing and eliminated their predators, we either let the cattle scatter at will or penned them into feed lots and gorged them on grains. That's not healthy for them, the fields, or you, the consumer. Or the planet.

At Bonne Femme, we are returning to the "old way", using modern methods. We enclose our cattle in properly sized paddocks with portable electric fencing and move the cattle to a new paddock every day or so. This method allows the cattle to get a good, fresh diet, plenty of exercise, and always a clean place to live everyday. It also allows the fields to be harvested at their peak of vitality while having the cattle deposit Nature's own fertilizers throughout the fields. The cattle are healthier, the fields are healthier, you and your family are eating healthier, the planet is healthier and everything is working as it should. It is a Win/Win/Win situation for everything and everyone involved. The cattle are treated more naturally and humanely, the fields naturally improve year after year, the consumer eats better, healthier food, and we are not wasting valuable grasslands or energy raising grains for cattle in feedlots (fuel costs for production and transportation, environmental damages, synthetic herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers, erosion, etc., etc., etc. ad nearly infinitum). At Bonne Femme we are just doing it as it is supposed to be done.

By the way, Nature always has flocks of birds following the herds of herbivores to further cleanse and fertilize the fields. Be sure to check out our pastured poultry page... Our Eggs & Poultry

Key Benefits

• Healthier meat for you and your family. An excellent source for learning about the health benefits of eating grassfed meats is Jo Robinson's website at www.eatwild.com
• Healthier animals treated humanely in a natural environment. See What's the difference in our Grass-Fed Beef and what you get at the store?"
• A healthier planet because things are done as they should be done, not merely for profit.

Typical Yield from a Side of Beef

"Excerpted from http://eatwild.com, the home page for Jo Robinson's new book, Why Grassfed is Best! For more information about the benefits of grassfarming, visit this site, or call (206) 463-4156."

Pricing

Beef is available in late October or early November. We charge $1/order in the spring (you own part or all of the animal & contract us to raise it & ship it to the butcher for you) + shipping & handling charges based on hanging weight per pound and you'll pay an additional fee to the butcher for cut, wrap, and freeze of approx. $.31/lb.  We'll give you the butcher's number so you can contact him with your custom cut orders for your beef.  If you haven't done this before he will help you with it.

Note: Beef take-home weights are 25-35 % less than carcass hanging weight due to trimming and de-boning. You will be notified of the slaughter date so that you can give your custom cut instructions to the butcher. You will be notified of pick-up/payment dates for your meat at the meat locker. You'll need to plan to be there then so that we all can settle up.

An Extra Note: Keep in mind that you are buying leaner, healthier meat. Less of the meat will cook away as fat left in the skillet or pot. All of the meat will be healthier and tastier for you and your family than nearly anything you can buy in any store. And you know who raised it and how we did it.

We look forward to building a good relationship with you. Thanks.

Information Request

Make a note of what you want and then let us know how to contact you. Send e-mail or call or write us at our phone or address, with information including your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address, letting us know what you want. If we are not readily available, we will be in contact with you soon to confirm the terms of your order. Order early; our resources are limited. We appreciate your business. Thanks.

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