Welcome to the Ranch!

In the above video, a reporter investigates the claims made by a grass fed rancher as to the health benefits of her beef.  This is not just any rancher, she is Dr. Whisnant, founder of American Grass Fed Beef.  She happens to also be a veterinarian.

The report contrasts the environment of the cattle in feedlots versus a grass-filled pasture.  I have to admit that some of the video is hard to watch.  But, I am comforted by looking out my window and seeing our herd grazing in a green pasture.

We have received a little rain in the last two weeks.  I believe if you added it all up, it would total just under an inch.  Even though we are far behind in our rainfall needs, the small rains have spruced up the grass a bit.

The report goes on to explain the cost difference between factory-raised beef and grass fed.  It is true.  It takes longer for the animal to reach a good harvest size.  For awhile there, Cross Creek Cattle Company was filling orders for grass fed beef one after another.  We have hit a lull as we wait for the rest of our grass fed candidates to mature.

In three weeks, I am going to weigh them again.  However, I think we will be ready to begin filling orders again in approximately 45 days.  We have some of the beef secured with deposits, but we still have some available for sale.

If you are interested in purchasing grass fed beef from Cross Creek Cattle Company, please let me know.  Contact me at lndehaven@aol.com.  All I will need at this time is your name, the size of your order, and a $100.00 non-refundable deposit to secure your order.  Then as the time approaches a definite harvest date, I will be in contact with you.

We hope that everyone had an excellent Christmas.  We did.  One of my husband’s gifts was a book called Grillin’ with Gas by Fred Thompson.  My husband loves to grill so much that when it was time for him to open another present, he was already absorbed in the book.  The couple who gave it to him were tickled.

The reason that I am even mentioning this cookbook is because the author discusses grassfed beef briefly.  He explains the different types of beef available in the United States.  Most cattle are fed out or given grain its entire life.  This process helps producers to create a consistent product. 

As he compares it to grass fed beef he writes, “Grass-fed animals tend to have a stronger and to a certain extent a less consisent flavor than those fed a regulated diet of grain.”  On face value it is not a glowing recommendation; however, he continues his comparison.

Mr. Thompson states that Argentine beef is completely grass fed and that it is sought out worldwide.  He concludes that this “could be a hint to what we really want on our taste buds.” 

Speaking for myself, grass fed beef tastes better than regular beef.  It actually has flavor.  You have to try it for yourself, if you don’t believe me.  I remember my first bite of a grass fed sirloin steak.  I thought, “So this is how beef is supposed to taste.”

Mr. Thompson continues, “At present, the demand for grass-fed beef in this country outstrips its supply.  As better restauranteurs increase the amount of grass-fed beef that they feature on their menus, consumer demand will increase. I hope that this will convince more ranchers to consider feeding their cattle only grass.”

At Cross Creek Cattle Company we know too well that the above statement is true.  Demand exceeds supply.  We are trying as hard as we can to raise our next crop to harvest.  Unfortunately raising grass fed beef is not something we can do overnight.  It is a process.  And we would like to extend a “thank you” to all of our customers for their patience.

Grass fed beef is not only healthier for you to eat, but it has flavor, too.  According to Fred Thompson, it has a flavor that the world is seeking to find.  Cross Creek Cattle Company is proud to be a ranch supplying families with grass fed beef.

First of all, I want to thank the people who send me information or let me know about articles in other publications pertaining to grass fed beef.  I cannot possibly know each time a television show, news report, or printed publication does a story on grass fed beef; therefore, I am sincerely appreciative of the help.

The Wall Street Journal recently published an article by Peter King entitled, “Ordering Up Beef that Roamed the Range.”  Mr. King wanted to find out if grass fed beef was really tastier than traditionally raised beef.  First, he explains what grass fed beef is.  Then he gives an interesting statistic.  He writes that “3 % of  beef sold in the U. S. is from grass fed cattle. ”

He looks online for mail-order grass fed beef.  Cross Creek Cattle Company is not one of the ranches.  We do not sell our beef this way yet.  Mr. King finds and orders from five different ranches.  He purchases comparable cuts of steak from each ranch .  Then he rounds up a group of people to be his taste testers.

He gives a very fair and honest critique of each ranch.  From the ease in which you order online to the taste of the steak, he was interested in the whole grass fed beef experience.  The taste of course was what prompted the entire article.

I believe that Mr. King and his taste tasters were pleasantly surprised at the quality and flavor of the grass fed steaks.  He writes, ” our tasters agreed that all the grass-fed beef tasted fresher and less greasy than supermarket beef.”

He is absolutely correct.  You can tell a difference between traditionally raised beef and grass fed beef.  At the end of the article, he inserts a chart with a row for each of the five ranches from which he bought.  You will notice the price per steak and the shipping charges.

As I stated earlier, Cross Creek Cattle Company does not sell by the cut nor does it ship our meat yet.  However, we are working to accomplish that goal.  We sell 1/4, 1/2, or whole orders for $3.50 a pound based on the hanging carcass weight.  You get the most bang for your buck this way.

I am excited anytime grass fed beef is the topic of conversation in the public arena.  It just means that interest and awareness is growing about the alternative to grain fed cattle on a national scale.  To read more about our grass fed beef and its health benefits, click here.