A Grass-Fed Winter on BF Farms
We have received many questions lately about how we keep the animals fed and cared for during the winter on the farm. These are great questions. With all of the ice and sleet everywhere how do the animals get the "green" they need to maintain their "grass-fed" status?
In order to answer those questions we followed Kamie, our Ranch Manager, during one of her morning rounds. She told us that they plant rye and barley with turnips and radishes which are green in the winter and the sheep and cattle eat right through the ice to get to the nutrition they need. The ice doesn't phase them a bit. In fact, it provides some extra hydration while they eat. They also receive salt and mineral, along with water that has to be broken up every now and then from icing over.
Our cattle handle the cold very well. Nature has a way of protecting animals from cold. Cattle will naturally grow thicker and longer hair for winter. In fact, cattle are a good indicator when a cold winter is coming as their hair will become even heavier. Then in spring they shed that winter coat of hair. Our sheep on the other hand have access to shelter under one of our large barns. Sheep have the tendency to suffocate if covered in ice, and therefore need the option of covered shelter during these cold months.
Have no fear! At BF Farms we plan ahead so our animals get exactly what they need when they need it. It takes a lot of work behind the scenes to care for the animals properly and to maintain our "grass-fed" status, and we wouldn't have it any other way!
BF-Farms, LLC, Oklahoma's source for 100% grass-fed beef and lamb.