One of the questions that I get from consumers is if there are hormones or antibiotics in the feed that we give our cattle. The answer is simple: there aren’t.
We do use pesticides in the fields, but it doesn’t affect the taste of the feed. We need to use the pesticides to keep the crop healthy. Without the pesticides, our crop would be infested with bugs. The bug infestation would do more damage than if you do the prevention that we do. The bugs would open the crops up to fungi. Basically, because the plant is stressed from the bugs that opens the plant up to other potential diseases that, in-turn, could become detrimental to the cow if she eats the infested plants. Not only that, the plants just don’t taste good.
Think of it as you eating moldy food from your fridge. We’ve all done it… It’s not that bad when you pull it out of your fridge. You can eat it just fine, but an hour later, you know you ate something not so good!
The pesticides used is all EPA regulated. The labels are very clear on what you’re allowed to use and how much. Not only is it EPA regulated, but in order to use the pesticides you have to have the state certification. Every five years we need to take a test for the certification. You are required to show your certification card when you purchase any pesticides.
Keeping the plants healthy goes hand-in-hand with keeping the cows healthy. The cows need adequate nutrition, so we do what we can to provide it. There are so many things we can’t control, and this is one of the things we can.
Earlier this spring when the corn was just coming up. Now, we’re taking it off the fields.