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Pasture Finished means just that, livestock that are
kept on growing pastures their entire lives. Our livestock
are "finished" (fattened) to a desired size
and weight completely on pasture. They receive no grain
and spend no time in feedlots or confinement facilities.
(For more information, see How
we raise our animals.)
The definition of ”Grass Fed” is some, mostly
or 100% grass fed. As more and more corporations begin
using the term "Grass fed" it will be left
up to the public to educate themselves as to what it
really means. No matter how the market place changes
in the coming years, "Pasture Finished Meats"
will retain a definition true to our principles and
valued among our customers.
Absolutely. There are dozens of scientific studies,
which find growing evidence that Pasture Finished meats
have tremendous health benefits. Just to mention a few,
though, compared to grain-fed beef, Pasture Finished
meats have half the amount of saturated fats, higher
levels of Omega-3s, twice the beta-carotene, more antioxidants,
vitamin E, and CLA, and normal levels of e-coli bacteria.
(For more information, see Health
Benefits.)
Pasture Ranged means that in addition to their vegetarian,
hormone & antibiotic free feed, our turkeys have
a large pasture to roam around, eat grass and bugs,
and to scratch and peck at what interests them! "Show
me the grass!" Turkeys need their salad greens
just like we do. The natural result of this generous
lifestyle is strong, healthy birds and meat with a rich,
full flavor.
You really have to ask the producer. Does it mean about
1 1/2 square feet per bird? Does it mean indoor living
with a window for sunlight, and at least 5 minutes of
open door time whether or not any or all birds go out
(and out to where and to what?)? To us, free range means
more than all of that. Our chickens are brooded in a
controlled environment for about 3 weeks. When their
adult feathers have grown in (so they can better withstand
the cool weather and rains that come every spring) they
are moved to separate chicken houses…each with
it’s own, spacious, outdoor yard. Here the chickens
can run, scratch, dust themselves, bask in the sun or
rest in the shade. The doors of the chicken houses are
never closed so they can come and go as they please.
In fact, they prefer being outside. We even give them
fresh cut alfalfa for their salad greens.
Thundering Hooves pastures are certified
organic. The meat itself is not certified organic.
Our customers are vital to us. The need for organic
certification has developed where disconnect between
the grower and the customer exists! Although we use
organic principals in our production and ask the same from our producer alliance partners, we believe our
current approach goes "beyond organic", meaning
that we believe our products are best when 100% Pasture
Finished. In this regard, we view education as a key
component of understanding our methods and valuing our
products. We encourage visits to the farm by appointment
and seek times for dialogue and listening.
Our pastures have been free from commercial fertilizers
and herbicides since 1994. In fact, our pastured became
certified organic in early spring of 2005.
No hormones & No antibiotics! We do not administer
any artificial growth hormones to any of our livestock
or poultry. Our livestock and poultry are not fed therapeutic
doses of antibiotics. We also do not feed antibiotics
to any of our animals to increase growth. Antibiotics
are only administered if a specific animal requires
treatment.
Livestock are cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. Poultry
are chickens, turkeys, geese and ducks.
No. These livestock are all RUMINANTS, which are four-stomached
animals (the rumen being the first and largest stomach).
Why so many stomachs? Ruminant evolved by eating a relatively
low energy/high fiber diet of grasses and forbs. With
the aid of bacteria residing in the stomach and additional
mechanical break down of the fibers (cud chewing), these
forages are utilized and turned into high protein muscle.
There are seeds (grains) present in the grasses at certain
times of the year on the prairie, but they bring entirely
different dietary results than our modern grains (see
HEALTH BENEFITS).
It has only been in the last eighty years or so - since
the invention of the combine harvester - and the resulting
surplus of grain for our own needs -- that our country
has been graining ruminant livestock. Millennia of evolution
cannot be replaced by decades of technology.
Yes. Pigs and poultry are all single stomached (mono-gastric)
like us. But, just like us, a diet made only of carbohydrates
– and lacking in fiber, vitamins and minerals
that come from "salad greens" – is unhealthy.
Our poultry and pigs are kept on open pasture or fed
additional grass & alfalfa so they get their salad
greens with their grains.
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Nature knows best. We seek to follow natural
laws governing the relationships between grazing animals
and the grassland. Just as great herds of bison and
flocks of birds moved with the availability of fresh
grass and insects on the prairie, our management practices
follow this age-old pattern. Our livestock are moved
across pastures in a high-intensity, short duration
grazing schedule, always on the greenest pastures, allowing
the pastures time to rest, re-grow and recycle nutrients
naturally. Thus, we are able to build up the soil with
organic matter, which reduces erosion and saves water
by increasing moisture retention.
For the environment, this natural approach guarantees:
- New life for the soil/grassland by cycling nutrients
and creating organic matter. If you take life from
the land, you must put life back.
- Enhanced biodiversity, water retention and the
elimination of erosion.
- Elimination of unacceptable levels of nitrates
in the ground water.
- Zero use of chemicals. Our pastures have been free
from herbicides and commercial fertilizers since 1995
and certified organic since spring 2005.
- Reversal of the encroachment of weeds and brush
that can accompany non-rotational grazing methods.
For the livestock, this natural approach guarantees:
- Conditions best suited for the animals from which
they evolved.
- Growth in a healthy, natural environment.
- Access to fresh air free from ammonia, pathogens,
or dust that can cause stress.
- Our poultry have total and free access to the benefits
of sunshine and exercise.
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In early 2007 we received full USDA certification for our slaughtering and processing operations. We follow all required state and federal safety
rules and regulations concerning the safe handling of the animals and
meat throughout the entire process of creating all Thundering
Hooves products. We keep all the required documentation
and HACCP (Hazardous Analysis Critical Control Point)
plans for every aspect of our processing procedures.
We also continually bridge gaps between our customers
and ourselves. This creates a unique level of accountability.
Eye to eye, hand to hand, we are building relationships
with more and more people who trust us to grow their
food.
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We produce quality products by first addressing the
quality of life of our soils, the water, the animals,
their diets, as well as their age. (For detailed information,
see How We Raise Our Animals
and Health Benefits.)
All Thundering Hooves meats are processed from start to finish under USDA inspection. Animals are harvested at our farm in our own USDA mobile Abattoir. The carcasses are transported to our Meat Shop in Walla Walla where the meat is appropriately aged for optimal
tenderness and flavor then cut & wrapped under USDA inspection. Our meat and poultry are stored
in a USDA approved commercial freezer at our processing
facility. (For detailed information, see USDA Processing.)
It is ONLY our cured, smoked or mixed-ingredient products that have any kind of additives. Our ground beef, steaks, roasts, chops, ribs, etc. are all entirely free from added ingredients of any kind. Our linked pork sausages, of course, have seasonings, but they are entirely free from any added preservatives.
Click Here for a detailed explaination of why we use nitrites, and why we must reject the so-called "nitrate-free" methods used on many hams and bacons sold in natural food stores.
Yes! We encourage you to try our meats side by side
with the meats you are accustomed to from the grocery
store. The generous lifestyle and natural diets we give
to our livestock create naturally flavorful meats, appropriately
aged, with a distinct quality from the Walla Walla Valley.
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You can see the products we are currently offering by clicking on Available Products or by clicking
Go Shopping to view our current products and prices.
There are several ways to buy our meats. For more details, go to Delivery Options.
- Neighborhood Buying Clubs – These clubs are a fantastic opportunity for you to become a part of a local consumer network in which you encourage your friends and family to participate while being rewarded for your efforts with meat bonuses and a convenient and affordable delivery service. For more details, click Neighborhood Buying Clubs.
- PUGET SOUND HOME DELIVERY – Made possible through SPUD.com, Free Home Delivery is available in many Puget Sound locations on orders of $35 or more! (A $3.50 delivery charge will be added to orders less than $35.) So, if you would like to try the free home delivery service offered by SPUD, just go to www.SPUD.com, click on the purple truck, and enter your zip code for delivery details to your area. To order Thundering Hooves meats through SPUD, just sign up at www.SPUD.com and start shopping.
- ORDER ON OUR SITE - You will find a wide variety of beef, pork, lamb, goat, and turkey. Place your order on our Go Shopping Page and choose from the list of dates and locations for you to pick up your order in the greater Seattle area or at our Retail Store in Walla Walla. (See Delivery Options for more information.)
To begin shopping click Go Shopping.
- Thundering Hooves Meat Shop –
Come to our Retail Store in Walla Walla located at 2021 E. Isaacs.
(From Highway US-12 E - going toward Walla Walla -
exit onto WILBUR AVE. Go 0.3 miles and turn right
at the first traffic lights onto E. ISAACS AVE. The
shop will be on your immediate right with parking
available in front of the store.)
STORE HOURS: Monday through Friday
from 8 am- 5:30 pm. and Saturdays from 9 am - 1 pm.
Feel free to contact us about any other questions or
comments you wish to share.
Call toll-free: 1-866-350-9400 or e-mail us at info@thunderinghooves.net.
Thank you.
-The Huesby Family
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