What kind of beef cattle do you have?
We have a heritage Red Devon ("gourmet beef on grass") cow/calf herd, and much of our beef comes from our herd.
But the demand for Parker Pastures high mountain, clean, grass-fed, grass-finished beef has grown beyond our wildest dreams! Our herd is not big enough to provide for everyone who wants to fill their freezers with top quality grass-fed beef they trust.
So, we do source cattle from like minded (amazing) ranchers in our region. All cattle are then finished (fattened) at Parker Pastures under our watchful care.
An example of this is the Lonetree Ranch, where Cloe is spending the summer. We buy extra cattle from them to fatten and finish on Parker Pastures' lush mountain meadows. Like Parker Pastures, Lonetree is a Audubon Certified ranch. Their Black Angus cattle live an incredible life free of chemicals, hormones, antibiotics, and other junk. They graze pristine, diverse, high mountain pastures and live a low-stress life under the loving care of their ranchers. The Lonetree family uses intentional management based on the same principles and values that we use at Parker Pastures.
What do your cows eat?
Our cattle are 100% lifetime grazed, grass-fed, grass-finished, and pasture-raised.
We proudly raise our beef in the remote Gunnison Valley, a place unlike any other...a place of clean water from pristine mountains, high altitude unpolluted air, highly mineralized mountain soils, diverse grasses, and lots of sunshine.
We have discovered that the unique and acclaimed flavor of our organic grass fed meats are a result of this place where they are raised and our unique growing conditions.
Our fields are filled with diversity... grasses, flowers, willows, timothy, red clover, white clover, alfalfa, and more for the cattle to choose from resulting in nutrient rich beef. Our fields our irrigated with and our cattle drink from clean, clear snow-melt mountain streams.
Similar to a fine wine, our organic grass fed beef is a reflection of the terroir of this beautiful mountain environment we call home. And the unique expression of our terroir is magnified in the autumn.
Do you practice Holistic Management and Holistic Planned Grazing?
Yes! We have been practicing Holistic Management for over 20 years. We regularly attend conferences, workshops, and study Holistic Management, biodynamic ranching, organic ranching, holistic livestock health, soil health, etc. to keep up to date on the latest practices in our field.
Bill and I are also co-founders of the Colorado Regenerative Network, which is the Colorado Savory Hub. Click these links to learn more about this organizations
Where is your ranch located?
Parker Pastures’ Headquarters is on the Van Tuyl Ranch just minutes from Gunnison, CO in the magical high mountain Gunnison Valley. There is an amazing public trail that circles through the ranch along the Gunnison River. We also manage several other incredible mountain ranches in the area on which our herds graze. Uniquely, we do not have any public land leases.
Do you give your cattle antibiotics?
We never use sub-therapeutic antibiotics. We do, on very rare and necessary occasions use antibiotics as the most humane action to treat a sick calf, but these animals are removed from the meat program and will NEVER end up on your plate.
Do you give your cattle growth hormones?
Never.
Do you use chemical fertilizers?
Never.
Do you use pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, etc?
Never.
Are your animals treated humanely?
Absolutely. Our animals are out on spacious, clean, organic, fresh pastures their entire lives. They have space and means to express their particular “animalness.” They remain under our care their entire extended lives, spending their lives with their herd, eating a diet of fresh greens, exercising at will, getting plenty of fresh air and sunshine, and living a low-stress and natural life. Plus, everyone on our ranches has been trained in low stress livestock handling.
Is your beef certified organic?
We like to say we are Beyond Organic! We are not currently certified organic, because we decided that the cost of the certification and the green washing happening in the organic sector wasn't serving us or our customers. That said, we have always, and always will manage our pastures and livestock in a way that is in line with organic standards, and in fact go WAY beyond organic standards.
Do you have any other certifications?
Parker Pastures is proud to partner with the National Audubon Society through their Conservation Ranching Program! Parker Pastures officially became an Audubon-Certified Ranch in 2020 (although we’ve always been in practice!).
Where do you get our cattle processed?
We will take your beef to the awesome, small, super clean, family owned USDA processor (Kinikin Processing in Montrose, CO) that we’ve worked with for years. This is just about an hour from Gunnison. Your beef will dry age for 14-21 days before our expert butchers cut, vacuum seal, and flash freeze your beef in their brand new facility.
How long is the frozen beef good for?
With the heavy duty packaging and vacuum seal our butcher uses, our beef will last indefinitely, although USDA recommendations are to use it within 1 year. Occasionally a seal will break after you get your beef, so use those packages first.
Is your beef Dry Aged?
Yes! For two to three weeks it hangs in the carcass before being made into cuts. Why? This intensifies the good flavor and increases tenderness.
What grade is the beef?
Our beef is not graded. Most of it would grade choice with some select if it were graded.
How much freezer space do I need to figure before buying?
You can plan on about 1 cubic foot per 30 lbs of beef.
A CowShare is big investment and could be a big risk. Do I have any guarantee to protect me?
Yes! Your beef has a 100% Unconditional Customer Satisfaction Guarantee. If you are not happy with your beef, let us know. We will cheerfully replace or refund your order.
Why is our beef the price it is?
Our beef is the best of the best. Not just the best tasting, it is also raised in the way best for the earth and for the health of you and your family. When you purchase from Parker Pastures you are filling your freezer with Colorado's Finest Grass-finished Beef, fueling your body with flavorful and nutritious protein, partnering with us in creating more biodiversity, sequestering carbon, and creating a better world. That is priceless!
Why is grass fed beef higher priced than generic beef?
The cost of processing is the primary reason. Giant multi-national packers have an economy of scale that is pennies on the dollar compared to small artisan butcher plants like Kinikin Processing. With the recent drama in the meat packing industry, we are even more thankful for our butchers, and we are willing to pay what they need to keep doing the valuable work they do for the local food movement. That said, we do choose to have our CowShares butchered under
