More Than Food

More Than Food

To our family, this farm is about much more than raising food.

A couple weeks ago we had our second Farm Day. Other than it being abnormally cold for May, it was everything we imagined it would be. Hay rides, horse rides, games, and food brought the community together and smiles on each face. Watching the kiddos pet and squeal over the baby animals and anxiously wait in line to ride the horses filled my heart. Our family was encouraged by your support and your presence. My favorite part however, was listening to people ask questions about farming and what it means to eat grass-fed.

You see, the reason why our family has taken on the giant en devour of creating 100% grass-fed meat without any of the junk - steroids, antibiotics, ect. - that weaken our immune system and fill our bodies with toxins and bacteria, is because we care about you. The reason why so much effort goes into the care of our grass and our animals is because we want to see you succeed. We want to see a community that has the energy to love and grow. That thrives because you have fed your bodies quality food. We want to see your kids run, laugh, and excel in school. We want to know that you feel good, not just about what you are putting into your body, but also about the function of your body.

In order to have the highest functioning bodies, you need high quality food. We want to be that resource for you. Let us be that resource for you.

Have a happy and healthy summer!

BF-Farms, LLC, Oklahoma's source for 100% grass-fed beef and lamb.

Calving Season

Calving Season on the Farm

It's calving season on the farm, which means there are babies popping up everywhere! Along with making sure the calves are nursing well, we also make sure the mamas have the nutrients they need to pass on to their babies. Right now, they are receiving high quality grasses such as prairie hay, buffalo grass, and crab grass. We will move them to different pastures to meet the needs of their diet at any given time.

This week we brought some cattle in to be pregnancy tested. These cows have been in the pasture with a couple of bulls for a few months now. First, we pull the bulls out of the group. Then we test the cows for pregnancy. Once we get the results back, we will separate the ones who are pregnant from the ones who are not and prepare for the next calving season.

The process is pretty simple. We draw a small amount of blood from the base of the tail and send them on their way!

BF-Farms, LLC, Oklahoma's source for 100% grass-fed beef and lamb.

Is All Grass-Fed Created Equal?

Is All Grass-Fed Created Equal?

Did you know that not all grass-fed meat is created equal? Marketing companies and the food industry have realized the trend to eating grass-fed beef. People want to eat healthier. People want ethically raised food. The problem is that in order to capitalize on these trends, they have mislead us with popular labels. If we don't ask the right questions, we may be deceived.

We are one of the only farms in our area that produce 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef and lamb. When I share what we do with friends and strangers around town, I often hear things like, "Oh, I've seen grass-fed meet sold at the grocery store or at the health food store!" to which I respond, "Is it also finished on grass?"

The loophole in the food industry right now is that as long as an animal has eaten grass at all in it's lifetime, it can be considered "grass-fed". It's marketing at its finest.

You see, all cattle begin by eating grass and nursing from mama until about 6-12 months. After that period of time, many farmers choose to fatten the animal on grain until it goes into processing. These animals are not 100% grass-fed. If they are sent to a feedlot, it also becomes a sanitary issue as mentioned in our previous blog, "Safe Beef".

At BF Farms we allow the animals to continue eating grass their entire life. The main difference is in the nutrition you are receiving. You eat what "Norma Jean" eats. Here are the health benefits to 100% grass-fed beef and lamb vs an animal finished on grain:

• Higher levels of Omega 3s - an essential fatty acid that reduces inflammation and lowers cholesterol
• Higher levels of CLA - a fatty acid that improves brain function and reduces the risk of cancer
• Higher levels of vitamins and minerals including vitamins A and E
• Lower levels of Omega 6s - a fatty acid that causes inflammation and raises cholesterol
• Lower levels of cholesterol elevating saturated fatty acids
• Lower levels of overall fat content

There is a difference and we want you to benefit from a 100% grass-fed animal and all of the nutrition it brings! We work hard so that our animals receive a grass-fed diet year round. We work hard so that we can be proud of that "grass-fed" label. So next time you're at the grocery store, health food market, or farmer's market, ask the important question: "Is it also grass finished?"

BF-Farms, LLC, Oklahoma's source for 100% grass-fed beef and lamb.

The Well-Traveled Steak

Is Your Steak Well-Traveled?

In our area, a stocker calf operator buys small calves, 300 to 400 pounds, and grows them on grass or wheat pasture until they reach a weight of 700 to 800 pounds and ready for the feedlot – then they become well-traveled! Many of these calves come from Mississippi, about 500 miles away. Due to the long distance, these calves arrive stressed.

The calves are given antibiotics and growth steroids and are watched carefully for 30 days. Any that are sick will be given another round of antibiotics. Sometimes the calves will be given another round of growth steroids when they reach 500 – 600 pounds. These steroids add muscle. It’s just like an athlete who takes steroids to enhance their strength and performance.

When the calves reach that 700 – 800 pound marker, they are prepared for their second road trip, this time to a feedlot. In our area, most major feedlots are about 200 miles away. Once at the feedlot, the process starts all over. Due to the stress of travel, they are given another round of antibiotics along with more growth steroids. A ration of grain is introduced at the feedlot and is continued until they are ready to go to the processor. An average time at the feedlot and on this grain ration is approximately 150 days when the calves will be weighing 1,200 – 1,400 pounds.

There is yet another road trip in store for these calves. They are now loaded out of the feedlot and hauled to a processor who may be 100 to 200 miles away. Once the processor finishes the processing and the meat is cut into steaks, roasts, ground meat, etc., a food service company picks it up and distributes it to restaurants and grocery stores throughout the United States. Then the last trip is the one you make to the grocery store and take it home for your next meal.

It is entirely possible that the steak or hamburger you purchased at the store or ate at a restaurant has traveled more miles in the last year than you have! This is the society we live in. It is a way of life that most people have accepted – that is until now.

Purchasing your live animal directly from BF Farms, where it has lived its entire life, fed no grain, given no antibiotics or steroids, and where you have control over how that animal is processed for your family’s enjoyment, is a blessing. This is such a simple concept, but it is not new. This is exactly how the “Family Farm” operated years ago - before big industry took over. Our family believes in this simple, natural, healthy way of raising animals, and we want to share it with you!

www.BF-Farms.com

BF-Farms, LLC, Oklahoma's source for 100% grass-fed beef and lamb