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TEI's Belted Galloways: Raising All-Natural Grass-Fed Beef
Although The Evergreen Institute's emphasis is on offering high-quality educational opportunities in renewable energy, green building, energy efficiency, and sustainable living, we are engaged in a number of other activities. We've planted an organic garden and are raising chickens for food. We have emarked on an ambitious pond restoration project and are working on a plan to restore the forested portion of TEI's property to help create a healthier ecosystem and reduce greenhouse gases. In 2009, TEI purchased a herd of Belted Galloways, for food and income. We currently have 11 head, including a bull.
The cattle were introduced this spring to the farm by my brother Jim. Dan purchased the cattle in the summer from him.
It's our goal to raise all-natural grass-fed cows to provide healhty, high-value protein to a select number of individuals -- local folks interested in eating healthy meat not laced with hormones or antibiotics or fattened with corn.
We are also interested in raising the beef sustainably -- without antibiotics or pesticides -- and using the cattle to improve the quality of our pasture. We have already begun using the manure for our garden and hope to generate methane from it as well to help power our educational center. We sold our first beef in the fall of 2009 and will also be selling calves and yearlings.
We have had three calves (all girls) born to our herd since the cows arrived in the Spring of 2009 (see below).
Health Benefits
Belted Galloways produce an exceptionally lean (healthy) and flavorful meat. The meat's also very healthy. It has high levels of omega-3 fatty acids -- the same fatty acids that are found in fish. Here's a summary of research we've found:
"Research in Great Britan and abroad is indicating that beef from grass-fed cattle contains significantly higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids than concentrate fed comparisons. Omega-3 has been shown to reduce the level of heart disease and the department of health has recommended that its consumption should be increased.
"Only a few sources are available in the human diet, oily fish and meat being the two main sources. Research from the USA also indicates that eating grass-fed beef has anti-carcinogenic properties while vitamin E levels have also been shown to be higher in grass-fed animals."
Our source: http://www.rules.co.uk/lartington/93
Other Benefits of Belted Galloways
Belties are also cute as can be with their curly black or dun-colored hair. In the winter, they grow a double coat of hair to stay warm, unlike other cows that are kept warm by a layer of backfat. The Belted Galloways' heritage has conditioned them to survive in very harsh climates, and U.S. breeders have discovered that the thrifty, medium-sized animals more than earn their way in any beef herd. To learn more about Belted Galloways, click on http://www.beltie.org/history.html.
Please feel free to call Dan Chiras, The Director of TEI, at 303-883-8290, if you'd like to order some beef or purchase cattle from us. .
Meet Our Herd
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Four escapees, being escorted back to the pasture...Seems like all we did the first two weeks was usher cattle back into the pasture! |
| An expectant momma! This female gave birth to our first calf. |
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Our second calf, a cutie we call Linda Lu! |
| Notice the dun-colored belties in the back! |
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Our first calf -- Danny lin -- is a shy girl! She's very wary of cameras! |
| Momma cleans her newborn, Linda Lu! |
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