Livestock
Our cattle herd is raised in a natural way - with high-quality grain and hay, no additional growth hormones, and antibiotics only as needed to support animal health. Meat from the farm is marketed into wholesale markets, with some direct market sales to interested customers. Please email us at info@harroldfamilyfarm.ca for further details.
Red Angus bloodlines form the basis of our herd, which consists of 45 cow-calf pairs and a small feedlot facility for yearling calves.
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High-Quality Feed
Feed for the cattle is grown and processed on the farm. Cattle graze freely in the pasture over summer. During other seasons, the cattle are fed hay, greenfeed and a ground mixture of barley, peas and hay.
Hay is a mix of grasses and legumes (such as alfalfa), and greenfeed is grain (usually oats and/or barley) that is cut before it ripens while it is still green. Like hay, it is dried and baled.
Livestock's Important Role
Cattle are an integral part of the farm and the natural ecosystem. They play an important role in nutrient recycling, and farming practices related to raising cattle benefit both the producer and the environment. Here are some examples:
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Pasture lands provide not only grass for our grazing cattle, but habitat for many important native species. Maintaining healthy pasture lands preserves valuable wetlands and riparian areas (the special habitat along creeks and rivers) that are critical to wildlife and the integrity of human water sources.
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Land used for growing hay for cattle is included in the crop rotation, which adds fibre and nutrients to the soil, naturally reduces weeds and allows a restorative period for the land between grain crops.
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Manure from the cattle is composted and spread on the land, providing nutrients and extra fibre.
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After a summer on pasture with the cows, calves move to the feedlot where they act as another market for the grain which is grown and processed on-site.
Greenfeed
Pasture
Ground Feed
