Frequently asked questions
Are your beef truly 100% grass fed?
Are you certified organic? Why not?
Our cattle pastures and animals have been maintained with organic principles in mind since the early 80's. Unfortunately, the required recordkeeping and costs to become certified can be unmanageable for many small farmers. Farmers with a certification are only inspected by the USDA once a year, but they are required to keep daily records of everything, from how often they irrigate to total hours spent weeding and much more. And the more diverse the crop and pasture, the more complicated the paperwork and ongoing costs for certification.
Does Rocky Ridge Ranch adhere to sustainable farming practices?
Yes. With rest periods between grazing, we increase the density of existing plants in our cattle pastures and allow for the re-introduction of new native plants. As a result, all of our grassland is deeply rooted, and this better root structure and thicker sod enables the landscape to catch and hold nearly all of the rain that hits it, resulting in virtually no soil erosion or flooding. Finally, this sustainable eco-system is a natural carbon recycler. The carbon our animals produce is reused by our plant life for further growth.
Do you feed antibiotics or hormones?
No, none of our animals are fed antibiotics or growth hormones throughout the course of their lives.
Are the cattle finished with grain?
Never. From the moment our animals are weaned from their mothers, they consume high quality forage for the rest of their lives. Not only is grain-finish counter to the values of grass-fed farming, but a change to a starchy grain diet can undo omega 6:3 ratios and CLA values in 30 days.
What do cattle eat in the winter?
The onset of winter doesn’t mean the end of grazing for our animals. There is still stock piled forage that they consume until it is harvested or snow is an issue. When snow makes grazing impossible, we feed our animals our own Alfalfa, Peas, Oats, Beardless Barley, and Winter Hay all grown on our land.
What is CLA?
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is fatty acid that is produced naturally in the bodies of grass-fed animals and is found in their meat and milk. Grass-fed cattle are likely to have two to three times the amount of CLA as grain-fed animals, and this nutritional value is passed on to you when you eat grass-fed meat. Research shows that a diet rich in CLA can help reduce a person’s risk of cancer, atherosclerosis, and diabetes.
Is there an online order purchase minimum?
Yes the minimum is $50.
Does Rocky Ridge Ranch ship?
Currently the strong local demand for our products is enough to manage. However, for some special orders we may consider the possibility though you would need to contact us first to discuss this.
How much freezer space will I need?
One cubic foot of freezer space will hold approximately 22 to 28 lbs. of meat.
Nitrate-Free Bacon: Myth or Reality?
This website link below does a pretty good job of helping to clarify this often confusing subject. Essentially the bottom line to keep in mind is that, contrary to marketing slight of hand, Nitrites are actually in the Nitrate/Nitrite free meats being sold everywhere under the guise of "healthier". The key difference is, because they are present in a natural form (i.e. celery powder, beet powder etc.) manufacturers don't have to call the additive a Nitrite and the QUANTITY ADDED TO THE MEAT IS NOT REGULATED BY THE FDA! This is actually where the problem arises because, while most Nitrates/Nitrates break down during the curing process, excessive amounts are unhealthy and there are no restrictions to how much of the "natural" kind can be added. Conversely, the FDA tightly regulates the volume of Nitrates in their pure form that can be added to cured meats.
Do you offer a warranty on your products?
Is the grass fed beef at my local grocery store truly locally raised?
Check out this incredible article to find out the startling answer.
Any recipe suggestions for the abundant microgreens we receive every week in our Produce CSA?
They are fabulous in salads, sandwiches, wraps and the like. However, they also make amazing juice. Just run them through the juicer and freeze in ice cube trays. Then when you're in the mood for something nutritious but don't have much time, simply toss a couple greens cubes with some apple or orange juice in the blender and you've got fast and refreshing superfood!