ountry C Friday, December 18, 2020
cres A Focusing on Today’s Rural Environment
Volume 8, Edition 17
Grass-fed beef a good fit
for Litchfield familY
Ahrndts raise American Aberdeen Angus on small farm
L
BY KAYLA ALBERS STAFF WRITER
ITCHFIELD – Randy and Linda Ahrndt have always been on a farm and around animals after growing up on a beef and dairy farm, respectively. That made their decision to raise beef cattle easy. In 2013, with his son, Luke, Randy bought a small herd of cattle to begin the family’s grass-fed beef operation, The Twin Oaks Farm, in Litchfield. After reading about the health and ecological benefits of raising grass-fed beef, that was the method the Ahrndt family chose for raising their cattle. “We wanted to raise some good quality meat,” Randy said. “After we tasted it, we didn’t want to go back to anything else.” The choice was a good fit for their farm. “With our hilly terrain, this farm was not meant to be a grain farm,” Linda said. “It produces grass, so we wanted something that would utilize that.” The Ahrndts live on 130 acres of land, 40 of which are allocated as pasture for their 36 head to graze. Randy made the decision to purchase American Aberdeen Angus because of their medium size, docile nature and be-
end result was a breed that is efficient on grass, moderate in size, black, polled and the purest of Angus genetics. “Mature American Aberdeen bulls generally fall into a range of 45-48 inches measured at the hip and weigh from 1,300 to 1,600 pounds. Mature cows generally measure from 42-46 inches at the hip and weigh between 900 and 1,100 pounds.” Herd maintenance has not been a problem. “They kind of maintain themselves,” Randy said. “They are very easy to take care of and they are better for the environment because they are easier on the land.” When calving season comes around in the spring, the stress on the animals and their owners is minimal. “We have never had to assist a delivery,” she said. “We don’t even see them calve, they just come back with the calf.” For the Ahrndts, the main reason for raising grass-fed beef are the various health and environmental benefits. The meat itself has a lower fat content and the fat that it does have contains Omega-3 fats, which are characterized as healthier fats. Grass-fed beef is also better for the land, according to Randy and Luke. By Linda (front, from left), Jessica, Randy (back, from left) and Luke Ahrndt are the owners planting their land back into pasture, they and operators of The Twin Oaks Farm in Litchfield, where they raise grass-fed American have eliminated erosion and have been Aberdeen Angus beef. able to rebuild the soil. “By planting the land back into pascause they are easy calvers. According to mal Scientists began with a herd of regis- ture, the grass and clover that we plant AmericanAberdeen.com, the breed was tered Champion Angus cattle, purchased developed at the Trangie Research Cen- in 1929, that were carefully selected for Ahrndts page 3 tre in New South Wales, Australia: “Ani- high quality and moderate framed. The
PHOTOS SUBMITTED
A cow grazes on pasture at The Twin Oaks Farm near Litchfield. The Ahrndt family uses a rotational grazing model so the cows are always on fresh grass.
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