HOLDANCA FARMS
FREE RANGE MEATS
As part of the ongoing philosophy of maintaining responsible
stewardship, Holdanca Farms practices pasturing techniques in
the production of all meats. Pasturing has become more and more
popular as awareness increases about the intrinsic value of providing
livestock with natural lives as opposed to the current feedlot production
that many farms still employ. There are many arguments for the natural
pasturing option.
-environmental benefits: Pasturing requires an intimate and responsible
relationship with the farmland used. High quality and healthy forage is
crucial to maintaining a tender and desirable end product. Animals are
regularly moved around the 500 acre property, providing their own natural
fertilizer in exchange for a healthy and varied diet of succulent grasses.
Well maintained land leads to a quality end product.
-humane: Animals are raised in a natural environment, allowed to roam
with access to fresh air and fresh green grass as opposed to the CAFO
(Confined Animal Feeding Operations) practice that utilizes a mechanized
approach to livestock that can give rise to a variety of problems, not the
least of which is animal stress and abuse. Animals raised in such conditions
are usually force fed diets designed to increase productivity and lower costs.
This is especially relevant in the raising of chickens, turkeys and other
poultry who are usually denied any type of freedom, leading to a much
poorer quality meat and egg production.
-nutrition: In comparison with feedlot produce, pastured livestock contains
much less total and saturated fats, caloric content and cholesterol. More of
the major beneficial vitamins such as beta-carotene, vitamin E, vitamin C,
as well as omega-3 fatty acids and CLA(conjugated linoleic acid) are also
present when this method is used, making the meat a much healthier
choice when compared to a product force fed a sometimes questionable
variety of feed.
-chemical free: Mass production facilities have been known to use a mix
of feed specifically designed to increase the meat production and keep costs
low. This diet may consist of genetically modified grain and soy as well as
'by-product' feedstuff- a mixture that can contain everything from animal
by-products to municipal garbage. This leads to an excessive use of
hormones, antibiotics and other drugs.
-government inspected: All meats produced by Holdanca Farms are
government inspected. Poultry is processed at the farm using an inspected
processing facility. All other meats are sent to locally inspected plants.
All animals are voluntarily raised according to the provincial poultry
marketing board guidelines and are certified free range.
As a family farm, Holdanca Farms recognizes the importance of providing
a quality example of responsible farming practices. Confidence in the
quality pasturing practices leads to a product that consumers can trust.
