You might think that it is an unlikely career for a veterinarian, but Ohio rancher and equine veterinarian, S. Walker, is the owner of his own ranch which was started by his family decades ago, and he has been working for years to make grass fed farming a profitable reality for himself.

Better Beef And Soil Health With Grass Fed

Walker admits that he prioritizes grass-fed farming because he believes that it helps to optimize the health of the soil and land. And he isn't alone in thinking that, more farmers in recent years have also sought to pursue this method of farming as well. Grass-fed beef sales have seen significant growth in the past decade, making their way into supermarkets around the world today.

Fifteen years ago though, you might not have seen any grass-fed beef options in your local store, or have even heard about the grass-fed beef distinction; the market has come a long way.

“It became clear to me that it was much better to optimize the soil health and manage the grass I had to maintain a healthy place for my cattle to grow and thrive,... I have been told my whole life that you can’t make a living farming around here. I often think many people spend their entire life trying to prove their dad wrong. I’m no exception: I have spent the last 25 years constantly improving my Angus cattle so they are more efficient on grass and produce top-quality beef.” - Walker

With many stores seeing beef shortages in the past couple of months, along with other products, and seeing as some of those shortages are expected to still continue for some time yet, it has been a good time for ranchers in the past few months.

All around the United States ranchers have been seeing a surge in business from people calling who have been looking for what they can't find in stores.

There might be limited options in your neighborhood store, but you can also search online for meat delivery services if you are looking for more convenience as well, some of which are tailored to offering grass-fed meat options specifically.

To try and make his operation as profitable as possible, Walker has been dedicated to putting his science background to good use, it has helped him to raise over 120 head of Angus cattle already.

Going Back To Basics

"My background in environmental chemistry helped me to understand the importance of soil health and I began to realize that many of the traditional farming practices I had grown up with were actually very detrimental to the land I loved so dearly,... The cattle are constantly rotated across our pastures, never staying in the same pasture more than a couple days. This allows the grass to rest and recover in between grazings, which makes it have a deeper, healthier root system, which, in turn, allows it to produce more top-quality forage for our animals.” - Walker

Walker claims that the natural finishing is what helps to set that beef apart from the rest in the market, enabling him to offer some of the best, high-quality grass fed beef around. From offering more nutrition to providing more value for the environment, this is one market that will continue to grow.

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