Written By Ryan Grandi
Here at Swift Arrow Ranch our desire is to raise high quality beef in a holistic and regenerative manner. While that may sound very mystical, it’s a very straightforward concept.
Simply put we try to raise our cattle in a way that most closely mimics nature: 1) without the use of hormones, antibiotics and chemical de-wormers, 2) in a low stress and healthy environment and 3) rotating them to fresh pasture daily, resulting in tasty and healthy beef.
We are currently growing our herd of Red Devon Cattle as the breed of choice for our beef operation. Red Devon cattle (sometimes called Red Ruby or Ruby Devon) are a heritage breed that were introduced to the United States by the Pilgrims of the 1600s. Red Devon cattle are known for producing superior grass finished beef due to some of the characteristics below:
- Thick Hide – Red Devons are said to have the thickest hide of any breed, contributing to their external parasite resistance. Parasite resistance allows us to eliminate the use of chemical de-wormers which can be harmful to soil ecosystems, which are needed to grow high quality grass forage.
- Docile Temperament – Stressed cattle produce less flavorful and tougher beef. Red Devon cattle have a docile demeaner, making handling and processing less stressful, resulting is better quality beef.
- Maternal Ability – Red Devons are good “mamas.” They have a nurturing instinct and have a high butterfat content, yielding healthier, happy babies. Red Devons have also proven to be very fertile and have the ability rebreed quickly after calving.
- Adaptability – Red Devons are robust and vigorous cattle allowing them to thrive in a multitude of environments from very hot and arid regions to very cold environments. They flourish on grass foraging in hilly, rocky and rough terrain. Many people consider them the “best” breed for grass-based operations.
Creation care is the name of the game here at Swift Arrow Ranch. We love our Red Devon cattle and believe that they, along with regenerative practices, are the key to providing high quality, grass-finished beef.
We love the challenge of raising cattle in the way that God intended, the ways of old. It is a labor of love, peaceful and purposeful. We hope you enjoy our cattle and our process as much as we do!
About the Author: Ryan loves cattle, strong coffee, and mornings on the ranch!