Livestock & Meat

I currently have no meat stocks for sale

My Approach

I keep traditional breeds of livestock that are suited to low (chemical)-input farming; the ruminants in particular – sheep and cattle – thrive on ‘unimproved permanent pasture’, which is an unflattering way of describing a herb-rich mixture of grasses, forbes and legumes that is not fed synthetic fertilizer to make it grow lush quickly (such synthetically-fertilised pasture risks reduced mineral-uptake and may lead to nutritional deficiency). Pasture grazing is sometimes supplemented by feeding of tree-fodder, such as willow, and Russian comfrey. I also provide mineral licks and loose marine meal (containing kelp) for the cattle and sheep – in each case, products approved by Organic certification bodies. My livestock grow slowly compared to those farmed more intensively, and are likely to have more flavour (when consumed) as a result.

No GM – It’s Just Too Toxic!

GM is extremely bad news for the health of livestock, humans and the environment. The most thoroughly researched (looking at published peer-reviewed scientific research) and easily accessible report on GM is GMO Myths and Truths (2nd Edition) now released for free download. It is well worth a look! To quote from it:

It has often been claimed that GM DNA and proteins in GM animal feed are broken down in the animals’ digestive tracts and are not detectable in the final food product. However, GM DNA present in animal feed has been detected in the milk and meat that people eat. GM feed has been found to negatively affect the health of animals that eat it. Other research shows that small molecules called microRNAs in any plants that are eaten, including GM plants, could have a direct physiological effect on human and animal consumers. For all these reasons, meat, eggs, and dairy products from GM-fed animals should be labelled.
GMO Myths and Truths (2nd Edition), 2014, p.193

Despite recognition that GM material passes from livestock feed to livestock intact (and maybe on to those who consume produce from such animals), the UK Food Standards Agency allows the import and processing of GM varieties into livestock feed. I NEVER use animal feed that contains GMOs – this means paying a premium for Certified Organic feed for hens/ducks/pigs (Organic ‘nuts’ are used very rarely as an incentive to have sheep and cattle move when they are not minded to go where I would like them). My livestock have a cleaner diet than I do in this respect, since every time I eat meat at friends’ places or restaurants and it is not certified organic then I will most certainly be eating GM-fed produce! (That’s a good reason to choose seafood or vegetarian options where organic is not available – although even with non-meat products we are likely to be consuming glyphosate/Roundup if not eating organic produce – but that’s another story).

Check out the drop-down Livestock menu on the left for more details about the Cattle, Sheep, Pigs and Hens on the holding.