There are lots of different ways that grass-fed beef is grown. Some may feed hay to animals in a feedlot. Some may feed animals on sown paddocks of oats or rye grass. Some may let the animals roam where ever they like all the time, and supplement with hay during Winter.
How do we grow grass-fed beef here at Shingle Hut Creek Farm?
Our cattle graze on grass 100% of their lives, from birth to death.
They have access to multiple species of grasses and forbs, including what most people would call weeds, where they choose what and how much they eat. Because of the variety of their diet more anti-oxidants and phytochemicals are available in the beef for our vibrant good health.
They have continual access to fresh clean water and free choice of supplements like salt, seaweed, apple cider vinegar and minerals.
We love our dung beetles so we don’t backline with any chemicals for pests or use the ever popular fly tag to reduce fly load. We provide protection naturally using things like free choice sulphur, regular paddock moves, long rests between grazing areas to break pest life cycles and daily observation. This means the beef we provide is chemical free and naturally nutritious.
Side note: Dung Beetles are an unsung hero! They help deal with the manure that brings the flies. Information about the benefits of Dung Beetles is here.
Our goal is to always produce robust, healthy animals, where the cows give us one calf a year and the growers produce juicy, tasty meat with the right amount of fat-covering to enhance the eating experience. With access to green grass for most of the year (for Vitamin A), plus the sun on their backs (to provide Vitamin D), we produce healthy balanced nutritious beef for our customers.
We wean softly using weaning rings, which means that the calf is never taken from his/her mother during this stressful time, and he gets to stay with his herd and maintain his social habits.
We use a grazing plan to help us utilize the best feed at the best time of year. This also helps us prepare for possible drought or floods. We can look ahead and plan how much grass we have stockpiled and when it will start growing again. We use electric fences as a tool to make sure the cattle are where they need to be in accordance with the many cattle farming variables that are a part of our daily life here on the farm. By looking at things holistically, and by using ‘nature friendly fencing’ not only do we grow and maintain long grass in ungrazed ‘rested’ paddocks, we also provide habitat for pasture birds, wallabies and kangaroos.
It has been a joy purchasing our farm in 2014, seeing our herd grow and providing healthy grass-fed beef to our customers. It always makes us happy knowing we are producing:
- Chemical free, ethical, grass fed & finished and hormone free beef
