2012 season

Guest Ranch opens April 26, 2012. Ask about our men's Wild Spirit Weekend September 28-30, 2012.

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How to Buy Cattle

As we are always trying to learn more about cattle ranching and how it relates to what we produce, that is high quality cattle that turn into high quality beef, we have recently discovered the benefits from both a business and health perspective of natural, grass fed beef. We want to be able to do a better job at environmental stewardship in all facets of our business and to turn these efforts into improved range health, improved human health through consumption of our beef, and improved business health for our cattle ranch in order to allow us to continue down this trail.

To that end we are now offering the opportunity to purchase whole cows for processing into high quality, highly healthy grass fed beef. The opportunity here is to be a part of the business by participating in our cattle ranch activities and then taking home the fruits of your efforts in the form of grass fed Alberta beef.

We have ready for purchase and processing, a group of cattle that have been raised and fattened on a grass ration only. These animals have not been fed antibiotics in their diet either in water or food rations, have not been given steroids, and as adult animals have not been given hormone implants or been force fed hormones in any way. Truthfully, some of these cattle, as 2 month old calves, have been given a natural hormonal ear implant but from the spring of 2008 on we will be discontinuing this process. Once you choose and purchase your animal, we can introduce you to our local meat processing specialists. They will inform you of the different options available for processing your meat such as steaks, roasts, ground beef, specialty sausages and custom cuts of meat. Once you purchase the animal we can arrange for the processing or you can take care of that yourself.

One of the largest, yet mostly unknown, benefits of purchasing and processing your beef this way is the improved tenderness, flavour, and extra lean qualities your beef will contain when the animals are harvested at the ranch and then dry aged at a small local meat shop. Animals are not subject to the issues related to living in a highly stressed feedlot environment. In addition they are not placed under the stress that is normally the result of transporting animals in trailers to processing facilities and the subsequent stress from passing through the alleys, pens, and foreign sights and smells of large factory processing facilities.

The ageing of meat is one of most important factors in achieving a highly tender and palatable beef product. Meat processed in large factories is wet-aged, in other words it is wrapped in plastic the day it is cut and is not allowed to age in the time-tested method of dry ageing, or hanging meat. This 21-28 day process is what allows natural God created enzymes to break down the fibers in the meat to produce tender, flavourful beef. As the hanging meat loses about 20% of it's volume due to moisture evaporation, buttery or tangy wild game like flavours are concentrated in the meat. You will notice a much fuller taste to dry aged meat as the process resembles the ageing of wine. Our meat processors are experts in the art and science of dry ageing, guaranteeing you a high quality, highly healthy meat product.

If you would like to purchase your beef in smaller allotments we can arrange for alternate processing options and you could purchase assorted cuts in 100 lb family packs, quarters or sides of beef all cut according to your requests. Contact us to order, or visit us here at the ranch to choose your animal and decide on the types of cuts you would prefer.

The health advantages to you, the consumer, are enormous. Grass-fed beef is much leaner than grain fed beef and it has been calculated that by switching to this type of lean meat could save you from consuming up to 17,000 calories per year. It is also higher (2-4 times) in Omega-3 fatty acids, than grain fed beef. In addition grass fed beef is the highest known source of another type of good fat known as CLA or Conjugated Linoleic Acid, which may prove to be one of our best defences against cancer. Cattle finished on grass tend to have carotene levels approaching 5-8 times that of grain finished beef and a 4 times higher content of vitamin E.

Purchasing our grass-fed and dry-aged beef is a way to contribute to the local economy as well and it will allow you to be an active participant in the 100 Mile Diet approach to healthy eating and living. Remember, ranchers were the first environmentalists and everything we do is about being good stewards of water, dirt, and plants. Keeping these things healthy keeps our cattle healthy, and eating our beef helps to make you healthy.

www.eatwild.com