Farm Stand
Raising Heritage Cattle on Pasture
Herondale Farm is a mixed livestock certified organic farm. We have gradually transformed a former dairy farm to accommodate new inhabitants—our British White and Murray Grey cattle, Berkshire and Berkshire cross pigs and Cornish cross rock chickens (along with a motley crew of guinea hens and laying chickens who patrol for flies and ticks).
Healthy Animals Are Raised on Pasture
We like to raise healthy and happy animals, who spend as much time as they want in the pastures. Our chickens are a seasonal business, from spring through late fall, to ensure that they have grass as a big part of their diet. The pigs have access to the barn in the winter to stave off the cold, and they eat a lot of alfalfa baleage in the winter as well as an organic grain and soy mix. For the rest of the year they are rooting up marginal fields or woodlots. The cows graze the fields as long as the grass grows, after which they enjoy the alfalfa baleage and hay that we put up for the winter.
http://www.vimeo.com/7867858Our British White and Murray Grey cattle were bred to thrive on grass. These heritage breeds have never adapted to the feedlot system that forces hormone-filled cows to eat grain and forget about grazing. A grass-fed diet ensures meat that is tender, tasty, high in omega-3s and hormone free. Since our pastures are certified organic, our cows are eating grass completely free of herbicides and pesticides.
In essence, we are trying to turn back the clock—to produce meat and poultry that tastes as good as it did several decades ago before farms got turned into factories.
Heritage Breed English White Cattle
To place an order visit our online store or send us an email. Your order can then be shipped via UPS or picked up at the farm.
To visit: Best to call ahead. Here are our coordinates.
Hey David, I really enjoy your experience! Winter won’t last forever. It won’t be long before spring will arrive and pastures will start to green up. This may be the year for you to consider raising a few head of beef cattle.
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Gosh. Great idea but I may need to start with chickens or maybe a goat or two.
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Part of the problem is that the industry is basically run by the packers. 2nd part of the problem is that most ranchers (who are using the cattle as base income rather than hobby)can’t afford to hold their calves over until they are grass fat(and the banks won’t give financing for it.) 3rd part of the problem is that our best beef is imported out of the country and replaced by lower quality imported meat.
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Grain feeding and feedlots are not really the culprits, excessive hormones and antibiotics are. They could be eliminate through better genetics and handling procedures.
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A great deal of information in your comment. Packing or the lack of easy processing is a big issue in the NE. Ranchers I talk to have enough access to hay and bailage to make it through the winter months but that can be expensive for others. Never heard that best beef gets shipped out of the country. Where to?
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