|
|
Our Animals
We strive for the utmost in health for all our animals.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About Our Cows
Mountain Run Farm proudly manages a herd of
Black Angus cattle, all of which have been born and
raised on the farm since 1991. We have multiple
generations of cattle all living as one family mob.
The mob consists of 360 head ranging from
18-year-old great-grandmas to sprite newborn
calves. The herd is carefully managed through the
tall, native pastures loaded with wild medicinal
herbs. The mob deposits about 25,000 pounds of
manure and urine a day, aiding in the building of
microbial life in the soil. This allows earthworms and
dung beetles to go to work turning this “waste” into
fertile soil, thereby growing ever higher quality grasses.
Our herd receives absolutely no
supplements such as grain, vaccinations, or
chemical inputs. We do supplement with our own
recipe of vitamins and minerals mixed with organic
trace mineral salt and kelp. Our beeves are
patiently fattened on completely natural
pastures creating healthy fats. These fats are
essential in fostering health, intelligence, and longevity
of life for humans. I personally deliver the finished
animals to our certified butcher where the beef
is dry-aged for 30 days, then hand-cut and
packaged in a family environment. We then transport
the frozen beef cuts back home where they are
sold directly off the farm. We intend to provide our
community with nutrient-dense beef capable
of supporting health and aiding in the healing of many
well-known diseases.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About Our Hogs
Our Duroc hogs are also born and raised on our pasture.
They thrive on outdoor life – soaking up Vitamin D
while relaxing in the creeks snacking on crawdads
and acorns. Our hogs are supplemented with
Virginia-grown, non-GMO custom feed, and at least
80% of their diet is supported by roaming and
rooting behind our cattle. Our hogs are raised to
maturity and reach 400 lbs. before I call them “finished”.
This allows ample intramuscular fats and marbling
throughout our line-up of pork cuts. Along with beef,
pork fat is loaded with vitamins and minerals that are
essential to human health. I personally deliver the
hogs to our certified butcher, where it is also dry-aged,
hand-cut, and packaged in a certified facility. The pork
is also transported back home where it is sold
directly off the farm along with our beef. We have
heard plenty of old-timers say our pork reminds them
of what “real pork used to taste like.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About Our Chickens
Mountain Run Farm also raises meat chickens to
process and sell whole to our customers. Each
March we receive our first batch of newly hatched
chicks in the mail from Pennsylvania, and this continues
every 3 weeks or so throughout the season. We raise
Freedom Ranger chickens, originating from a French
bloodline (Label Rouge), and part of the Slow Food Movement.
Our chickens are fed with Virginia-grown,
non-GMO feed, along with kitchen scraps
and whatever juicy bugs they can find. They are moved
daily to a new salad bar of wild herbs and clovers
where 50% of their diet is pasture. We grow them for
about 10 weeks, and then they are processed by hand
on our farm. Our chickens are sold whole – fresh and
ready for the rotisserie. We offer pastured eggs from
our layers who share the fields with the other birds.
Their egg yolks glow orange like the sun!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About Our Turkeys
Starting in July, we raise one batch of turkeys for the
Thanksgiving season. Like the chickens, our turkeys come to us through
the Post Office, and we raise them for 16 weeks on pasture. They are
also fed Virginia-grown, non-GMO, custom feed once a day,
supplementing with forage and insects from the pasture.
We process these birds by hand the few days before
Thanksgiving and offer them to you fresh and whole for your family.
We put great pride into the presentation of these birds, and offer
them praises of gratitude for their beauty as your table’s centerpiece.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About Our Catfish
Mountain Run Farm’s custom catfish are an integral
part of our recycling system. All of the poultry guts
are fed to the fish to the tune of 240 gallons or
approximately 1400 pounds of guts per season!
Our 2-acre pond is kept clean by a windmill aeration
system, just like a huge fish tank. During dry spells,
we will pump pond water (fish emulsion fertilizer) onto
our pastures through a K-Line irrigation system.
Our fields are sloped to drain back to the
pond. When time permits, we will catch the catfish,
filet them, and offer the snow-white, nutrient-dense
filets to you frozen. Our fish are extremely healthy,
fun to catch, and good to eat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In summary, we are focused and honored to have this
opportunity amongst nature, to learn its way and
choreograph the animal rotations. I have found
purveyors of ancient wisdom whose lessons will lead
us to a healthy, happy, farm-based future. When
you buy meat from us, you are making a conscious
choice to offer your family the same. The cooking
of these meats is different because they are
pasture-raised. This beef does not shrink when
cooked…it swells. We highly recommend doing
some research on www.grassfedcooking.com for
instruction and insight. Comments and questions
are welcome, and please take a look at our website
for videos, pictures, and more information, and if
you’re still not satisfied take a trip out to the farm to
talk to us and see the animals for yourself. This is real
food folks; you will taste the difference – with your heart,
soul, and overall health.
Download this page as a PDF fact sheet
Read more about our products and prices
|
