New Calves

A couple months back I said we would try and post some pictures of this years calves;  it took longer than I anticipated, but finally we photographed a few, more heifers than bulls.  Here they are.

These calves will be weaned about the end of August and could be for sale shortly thereafter.

Ozark Empire Fair July 27th to August 7th, 2011

Fair time will soon be here and we are planning on taking four animals this year.  August 4 is the day that Beefalo will arrive at the Fair and the National Beefalo Show will be August 6, at 10 A.M. at the Noel Boyd center.  If you are interested in Beefalo and want to learn more about them, please attend and visit with their exhibitors.  See you then!

Lost Oppertunity?

About two weeks ago we received an email from a farmer named Sam ______ (?) who lives out West.  He was interested in some heifers and was enquiring about prices.  We were prepared to reply when our computer went down.  Now we have been informed that all of our emails have been lost.  If Sam _____ (?) reads this blog post please email us again and we will contact you as soon as possible.  Thank you.

Porcupine Meatballs

1 1/2 lbs. ground beefalo
1/2 c. regular rice
1 can tomato soup
1 Tbsp. minced onion
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 c. water

Wash rice and drain. Combine with meat, salt, papper and onion. Shape into small balls. Heat tomato soup and water and drop meatballs in mixture and simmer until done.

For Better Beef, Breed Beefalo

A Washington University Study, (using men, not guinea pigs!) compared Beefalo Beef burgers to regular beef burgers. At the end of a six week consumption test, the average results showed the men's LDL Cholesterol levels, while consuming Beefalo beef, was 15 points lower than when consuming regular beef burgers. No other red meat test has ever lowered the LDL cholesterol level! The same men perferred Beefalo beef burgers over regular beef burgers in taste, tenderness, juiciness and appearance.

Every product we consume has a different genetic makeup- Beef, Chicken, Fish, ect. The Beefalo beef discussed here also has a different genetic makeup, but in appearance and taste, it is the same as a good quality steak you purchase at any local grocery store.

When Beefalo beef was tested by the USDA, it was so nutritionally different, they gave it a separate beef listing. Previously, all beef breeds were in one beef category. The new beef category is Beefalo beef, from Beefalo cattle.

Different gentetics; the development of the Beefalo breed goes back over 150 years, to a point in history where the American Buffalo was in great numbers in the United States. The American Buffalo gives the Beefalo breed its genetic difference with a delicious beef flavor.

The Beefalo breed is a hybrid mix consisting of the following:

• 27% (+/-) 10% - American Buffalo (Bison Species)

• 73% (+/-) 10% - Beef Cow, (Bovine Species)

The New American Breed is now being sought after world wide due to its superior nutritional qualities.

Warning! Beefalo beef is very easy to overcook! It must be cooked at a very little lower temperature and removed from the heat source a little before you think it's done the way you like it. If not, it will be overcooked and dry because it continues to cook after being removed from the heat due to it's low fat content.

Stuffed Cabbage (Goblabki)

1  lg. cabbage
3 qts. boiling water
2 lbs. ground beefalo
1 med. onion, finely chopped
2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 c. uncooked regular rice
2 cups boiling water
3 eggs, well beaten
4 cans condensed tomato soup

Core cabbage; rinse with warm water for easy separation of leaves. Place 16 to 20 medium to large cabbage leaves in the 3 quarts boiling water; simmer gently until leaves are transparent, about 10 minutes. Drain leaves; set aside.
Cook meat and onion in large skillet over medium heat until meat is brown and onion is tender. Add salt and pepper; remove from heat.
Soak rice in 2 cups boiling water 5 minutes. Drain; cool.
Mix rice into beefalo mixture; stir in eggs. Place 1/4 to 1/3 cup beefalo mixture on center of each cabbage leaf. Fold in edges; roll up leaf from stem end. Place rolls seam sides down in Dutch oven or roasting pan. Cover and simmer over low heat on top of range (or bake in 325 degree oven) until rice is tender, about 2 hours.

General happenings

We don't normally have "bottle" calves with beefalo, but occasionally something happens and we have one.  We had a first calf heifer that needed a little assistance in delivering her calf and when it was born she got up and walked away.  We had to bottle feed the calf some colostrum and tried for two days to get Momma to accept it, but to no avail.  Last Fall during some of our beefalo business we had discussed "bottle" calves and were told "if you ever have one".  We remembered, and contacted the Jerry Smeltzer family of Marshfield, Mo.  They said "yes" and now have a baby beefalo heifer.  Good luck Jerry and family.

 

So far 2011 has been a heifer year, 27 heifers to 14 bulls.  Most of the calves have been sired by Rondo who is pictured below.  Those calves born in February will be weaned by about September 1st.  For those who would like to purchase some weaned calves at about that time we are taking orders now.  Hopefully we can add some pictures of these calves in the near future.