We talk a lot about what our cattle eat with buzzwords like “optimized” and “individualized” nutrition. But the bottom line is that, just like humans, cattle need a proper and balanced diet to thrive.
Over the generations, we’ve learned a few things from experience (and nutritionists). We’ve tried everything from natural pasture only to the latest feed on the market. We’ve learned that each animal is unique and their nutritional needs are, too, and to trust our instincts (and the cattle’s!) about what makes a healthy animal.
When the grass is green, the herd spends their time happily grazing our primarily coastal fields in a rotation and have constant access to fresh water. We assess the nutrition content of the grass at the beginning of the growing season and put out free-range supplements, like salt, protein, and magnesium, as needed to provide a complete and balanced diet.
Great cattle are grown on great grass, which grows in healthy soil. We use terms like “regenerative” and “sustainable” agriculture but when it comes down to it, that means we respect and encourage the natural ecosystems of our pastures: from microbes in the soil to grass to livestock. One element cannot thrive if a component in our pastures is out of balance. We take great care to ensure our pastures are healthy ecosystems and add cover crops and nutrients as needed to ensure a naturally healthy balance of forage for the livestock and proper environment for the microorganisms that help our ecosystem thrive.
When our pasture grass is dormant, the herd remains in the fields they know (with access to shelter and fresh water) and are fed Coastal and Tifton hay from our hay fields and supplemented with all-natural, animal by-product free feed from local sources. We select the feed for each group of animals in our herd based on their nutritional needs-we do not have a one size fits all approach. This allows us to truly care for our cattle as individuals and put them on a feeding program that works for them. During our daily wellness checks, we assess the feed program and adjust as needed, adding in components like additional natural minerals and protein. The healthier and more balanced we can keep our soil, the fewer supplements we have to supply. Win-win!
To prepare beef for market, they are fed an all-natural, locally-sourced grain ration for an average of 120 days, in addition to fresh grass. Our goal is to have healthy, tender beef through a careful and ethical feeding program-not just to pack on excess fat as quickly as possible. We believe this makes the difference in the quality of Hunter Lewis beef and enhances the tenderness and flavor of every cut.
Hunter Lewis Land & Cattle 