Healthy Herd, Healthy Beef

Vaccinations and nutrition are vital to herd health management practices in the beef cattle industry. No matter what level of production, ensuring the health of livestock should be at the top of the priority list. At Butterfield farms that is something we take pride in. Our cattle are vaccinated yearly for major diseases and are consistently checked for illnesses. Vaccines enable an animal to gain active immunity in the body to prevent disease and infection in the future. Not only are we ensuring their health from an immunity standpoint but also nutritionally. Nutrition is the cornerstone for keeping cattle healthy and growing. We ensure they are fed high quality forages each day. Without proper nutrition all bodily functions are affected. To keep our herd healthy we make sure they are maintaining a healthy weight and supplement those who are in need of extra nutrients. The importance of a healthy herd starts with building immunity through vaccines and offering a high level of nutrition.

Doing this with my family makes the experience mean more. Being able to share what I’ve learned at McNeese with Papa is special because we can implement new management techniques that will improve our herd.

All Natural Beef

We love our 100% grass-fed beef, and it remains a cornerstone of what we do. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, we found ourselves in a position to offer something new: all-natural beef.

So what’s the difference?

Both our grass-fed and all-natural beef are pasture-raised and free from antibiotics and added hormones. The key difference is in the finishing diet. Our grass-fed beef is raised entirely on grass, while our all-natural beef is pasture-raised but supplemented with grain.

This allows us to continue providing high-quality, responsibly raised beef while offering a slightly different flavor profile and option for your table.

June 2024

Hopefully, this year will be much different than last year. 2023 wasn’t great, because the historic drought killed all the grass and we didn’t have enough hay in the barn for all our animals. So far, we’re shaping up pretty good to have enough hay, with 8 and 1/2 inches of rain in the month of May alone. Hay in the barn will be a welcome sight.

Green grass looks good under red cows - especially with water standing behind them!

All cattle at Butterfield Farms are 100% Red Angus. One of the reasons we chose red angus is for their heat tolerance, and with temperatures warming up this early in the year, the cattle will get a chance for their genetics to shine.

RED HIDE COLOR improves HEAT TOLERANCE for both cowherds and summer feedlots.

- Red Angus Association of America

This genetic trait is very handy, because red cattle can be out in the pasture grazing, while other breeds are stuck lying in the shade.

This month we’re hopeful for more rain to keep our grass green, and we’re thankful for the great year we’ve had so far!

Zechariah 10:1 “Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime; it is the LORD who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone.”