10 Things to Know About DNA and RNA Vaccines for Livestock
Remember, Rafter W Ranch has NEVER and will NEVER vaccinate any of the animals in our care. Period. DNA and RNA vaccines are terms NOT used on our ranch. Not all genetic technologies used in veterinary medicine fall under the categories of “mRNA vaccines” or “mRNA gene therapies.” And there...
Is Grass-Fed Beef Really Better For The Planet? Here’s The Science
Advocates say there is a way to eat meat that's better for the planet and better for the animals: grass-fed beef. For the environmentally minded carnivore, meat poses a culinary conundrum. Producing it requires a great deal of land and water resources, and ruminants such as cows and sheep...
Local Ranchers Weigh In On Lab-Grown Meat
For ranchers and farmers of Colorado, the prospect of lab-grown meat is leading to some mixed emotions. Maarten Vanzoeren, is a butcher and owner of Simla Frozen Food Locker LLC in Simla, Colorado. At Vanzoeren’s shop, he slaughters rabbits, goats, lamb, poultry, wild game, beef, pork and...
Microplastics May Be Harming Your Body and Brain
Grass-fed meats can be a way to avoid these microplastics. STORY AT-A-GLANCE Discarded plastic — both large and microscopic — circles the globe, choking our oceans and polluting our food supply, ultimately finding their way into your body where they can accumulate over time Scientists have...
A Day on the Ranch – 2 New Visitors to the Ranch and New Family Pictures
We have new visitors ... the tumblebug. The video below was captured recently on the ranch showing these insects hard at work. Throughout our ranching experience, we have encountered various dung beetles. However, this is the first time we've come across THIS particular species. We consider...
Regenerative Cattle Ranching Can Heal 2 Major Environmental Concerns: Land and Carbon
Grazing livestock to mimic how wildlife forages (or called Regenerative Agriculture or Regenerative Cattle Ranching) can prevent the erosion of topsoil, protect water quality and keep carbon out of the atmosphere, but it requires big changes in how the beef industry operates. “Hop up, Jo,”...
Ranch Life Realities: Federal Agencies Scrap Aerial Pesticide Spray
Federal agencies scrap aerial pesticide spray which would have exterminated grasshoppers near the Rio Chama with aerial pesticide spraying that many feared would also kill bees, monarch butterflies and other insects vital to the ecosystem. In a rare move, and in the aging realities of...
VIDEO: The Shocking TRUTH about Eggs and Heart Disease
In this video, we will uncover the truth about eggs and heart disease, debunk myths, and provide scientific insights. 🤔 The prevailing belief that saturated fats and dietary cholesterol are the primary causes of heart disease is being challenged by doctors and scientists today. 🧐 Instead of...
A Day on the Ranch – In Pictures
A day on the ranch has many odds and ends that happen. From thirsty cattle and chickens to a winter storm rolling in. Things change quickly so we accept the elements and enjoy the beauty it brings.
Cultivated Meat, What is It? Why Should We Eat It? Why Shouldn’t We Eat It?
Companies are working on growing meat (called Cultivated Meat) outside of animals, but making large volumes remains a challenge. There is also a massive debate brewing, should we be even looking at this alternative. What are the "true benefits"? What are the potential pitfalls? Is it really going...
More Nutrient Dense Pasture-Raised Chicken and Meats are Just Better for Human Nutrition
Proponents of pasture-raised poultry and other grass-based farming systems often talk about our finished products as being more nutrient dense and better for the human nutrition compared to conventionally raised products. How well do you understand these claims you’re making? As David Hale...
The Top 4 Benefits of Pasture Raised Chicken
There are so many benefits of pasture raised chicken, it's hard to list just 4 ... but here are the top benefits. There are several benefits to raising chickens on pasture, and just as many benefits to the consumer who eats pasture raised meat. Whatever your reasons for making the switch...