Meats & eggs
beef
Every spring we purchase our beef feeder calves from area farmers who raise their cows on grass with the calves nursing from their mothers until they are weaned. After we bring these calves to our farm, they are pastured using seasonal rotational grazing. During the winter months and "mud" season, we give them access to shelter as needed, both to maintain their health and for the health of our pastures. During these times, they are fed hay harvested here on our farm. We also buy locally-grown hay from time to time if we run out of our own.
We supplement their food with shelled corn and free-choice minerals to ensure that they receive all the energy, minerals and trace elements they need to grow and be healthy. During the last 60 days or so, we finish our cattle with a mixed diet of grass, mixed grass hay, and grain. The grain is enough to add marbling. We raise them without the use of growth hormones, chemicals, preservatives or animal by-products in their feed. We know this because we personally feed our animals each day.
Our cattle finish out more slowly than the grain-fed animals, but the payoff for our customers is what we believe to be a healthier and tastier product. Various research studies indicate that grass-fed ruminants are richer in vitamins A and E, beta carotene, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and omega-3 fatty acids than their grain-fed peers.
pork
We raise our feeder pigs outside. They have access to their own open-ended hutches. They get plenty of sunshine and fresh air. We feed them a mixture of dry corn and soybeans. Their feed contains no hormones, chemicals, preservatives, antibiotics or animal by-products.
We let our pigs be pigs. They are allowed to roam and dig in the dirt. They enjoy wallowing in the mud and dirt. Mud helps keep our pigs cool and protects their skin from sunburn (yes, they can get sunburn) and bug bites.
Happy, contented, naturally-raised pigs taste better. Try ours and see.
chevon (goat meat)
We raise our meat goats on pasture using seasonal rotational grazing. During bad weather and the cold and rainy times of the year, they have access to shelter as needed.
When our goats are not out on pasture, we feed them our harvested hay. We supplement their diet with shelled corn and free-choice minerals to ensure that they receive all the protein, minerals and trace elements they need to grow and be healthy. We raise them without the use of growth hormones, chemical preservatives or animal by-products in their feed.
Like our cattle, our pastured goats take longer to grow, but the result is a healthier animal and a superior product.
broiler chickens
Our White Mountain broiler chickens are ready in June and October. We give our birds plenty of room to grow in a healthy environment, and, as with all of our animals, we do not use hormones, implants, or feed that contains animal by-products. It takes a little longer to raise our birds this way, but the resulting superior taste is worth it.
eggs
Our free-range eggs come from hens that have the run of the farms most of the day. The hens lay their eggs mostly in the morning, so we keep them near their nest boxes during the first part of the day. This makes it easier for us to gather the eggs.
These eggs are as fresh as they come. We like to say, "Any fresher and you would have to be in the nest with the hen!"
Like the rest of our livestock, our chickens are fed only unmedicated feed which contains no hormones, antibiotics or animal by-products.
A word about our eggs. They will come to you in a variety of sizes and shades of brown because we raise a variety of breeds which vary in size and color. When you break open one of our eggs, you will see how the orange yolk sets up plump and high -- not like the flat, pale yellow, runny store-bought kind. The difference is due to the freshness of our eggs and the diet of our hens. But the true test is the taste. Try them and see!
contact
John and Kathy Mizick Mike and Angie Hall Steve and Candee Hall
419-569-2401 419-561-8280 419-561-0769
email: hmfamilyfarms1@gmail.com
