100% Grass-Fed Beef Program Protocol

 

 

                         

Contact Information:

 

Name

Title

Phone

Fax

Email

Todd Churchill

Owner

612-756-1346

507-263-4019

todd@thousandhillscattleco.com

Nate Chisholm

Field Rep

612-756-0720

507-263-4019

natec@thousandhillscattleco.com

Will Winter, DVM

Herd Health Consultant

612-756-1232

 

holistic@visi.com

 

 

  1. Regionally Sourced
    1. Calved and raised in the Upper Midwest/Upper Plains

                                               i.     Calves raised in MN, WI, ND, SD, IA, NE, MO

                                             ii.     Cattle finished in MN, WI, IA, eastern NE, eastern SD, eastern ND, northern IL

 

  1. Source Verified:  All cattle should be identified with an ID tag, no later than weaning age (preference is calves tagged at birth.)  Each animal must have an affidavit that includes breed, age, ear tag #, finisher, and calf producer, if different.  Affidavits must accompany the cattle to delivery at the processing plant.

 

  1. Diet:
    1. Calves must remain on their mother's milk for a minimum of 120 days (strongly prefer calves to stay on cows for 9 – 10 months.)
    2. Once calves are weaned, their diet will be any combination of:

                                               i.     pasture forages, no synthetic chemical pesticides/herbicides applied

1.     Grasses (perennial/annual/Italian ryegrasses, orchardgrass, etc.)

2.     legumes/forbs (alfalfa, clovers, chickory, beets, etc.)

3.     herbs

                                             ii.     whole flax seed, no chemical pesticides/herbicides applied

                                            iii.     flax meal or flax oil by-products, certified organic only

                                            iv.     grazed summer and winter annuals (corn, rye, oats, barley, triticale, etc.) 

1.     seeds must not be developed when grazed

2.     only non-GMO annuals can be grazed

3.     annuals must be grown without chemical pesticides/herbicides

                                             v.     molasses

    1. Any combination of the above list can be fed as stored forage (hay, balage, silage, etc.)

 

    1. Prohibited from the diet are:

                                               i.     grains (except flax seed listed above)

                                             ii.     corn silage

                                            iii.     Any genetically modified organism

                                            iv.     animal and fish by-products

                                             v.     antibiotics

                                            vi.     supplemental hormones, steroids, artificial growth enhancers

 

  1. Chemical use on pastures

                                               i.     synthetic herbicides/pesticides are prohibited for use on any pastures used for grazing or the harvesting of stored forages for winter feed.

 

  1. Veterinary treatments:
    1. All veterinary treatments, including, antibiotics, vaccines, and/or worming treatments must be recorded in a record keeping system, including ear tag numbers.  This system must be available for inspection.  Withdrawal periods for worming treatments must be doubled.
    2. Administering any antibiotic or growth hormone to an animal makes that animal ineligible for sale to Thousand Hills Cattle Company.

 

  1. Treatment of Animals: humane handling procedures in loading, trucking and restraint for slaughter are required.  Efforts must be make to keep cattle as calm as possible throughout the slaughter process.

 

  1. Certification:  Food Alliance – Midwest is the third party certifier for Thousand Hills
    1. Finishers – all producers who sell fat cattle must be certified
    2. Cow/Calf operations – all cow/calf operations must be certified, except those that sell calves with an average weight per load of less than 600 lbs.
    3. Thousand Hills pays all certification costs for eligible operations

 

  1. Carcass Quality and Consistency.:
    1. Cattle age and carcass weights:

                                               i.     Heifers 16 – 30 months, with carcass weight of 550 – 800 lbs.

                                             ii.     Steers 16 – 30 months, with a carcass weight of 550-800 lbs.

    1. Acceptable "finish"

                                               i.     No ribs showing

                                             ii.     Tailhead fat

                                            iii.     Cod fat – steers, udder fat – heifers

                                            iv.     Distended heavy brisket

                                             v.     Minimum backfat of 0.2 inches

 

 

  1. Visual Inspection:
    1. All cattle purchased by Thousand Hills Cattle Co. must be visually inspected by a company representative.

 

 

  1. Terms of sale
    1. For calves and yearlings:

                                               i.     THCC arranges purchase of calves and yearlings for finishing.  Pricing is dependent upon quality and expected yields.  Please call for more information.

    1. For finished slaughter cattle

                                               i.     Payment is based on Carcass Weight, determined by processor.

                                             ii.     Price is between $1.65 - $1.75 depending on expected yield.  A THCC representative will visually inspect your cattle and quote you a price on the farm.

                                            iii.     Cattle that grade Standard or Low Select, per the processor's assessment,  will be discounted $.25/lb from quoted price.

                                            iv.     Cattle that are delivered without the THCC affidavit properly completed will be discounted $20 per head.

                                             v.     Transportation is arranged by THCC.

                                            vi.     THCC pays $20/head transportation costs, remainder is paid by Producer.

                                          vii.     Payment will be made within 14 days of delivery to processor.

                                         viii.     All cattle will be delivered to Lorentz Meats in Cannon Falls, MN.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have read and understand this protocol.  I guarantee that all the cattle I supply to Thousand Hills Cattle Company will be raised in accordance with the above terms and conditions.  This guarantee will continue in force until I revoke it in writing.

 

 

Producer (Farm Name, Individual Name)

 

 

Date                                                           Phone (Home/Mobile)

 

 

Address, City, State, ZIP