Grassfed Beef
Grassfed beef is known to be one of the more nutrient-dense proteins on earth.
Grassfed beef has a remarkably higher micronutrient profile compared to grain-fed beef.
Sunrise Ranch beef is 100 percent grassfed. It’s low in fat and high in Omega-3 fatty acids, beta-carotene and vitamin E.
Our Approach to Raising Beef
We believe in the approach that building health is better than fighting disease. We had been finishing 1-year-old, mostly Beefmaster, Angus/Limousin, Charolais and Hereford cattle on our 120 acres of non-sprayed irrigated pasture; but in 2014, we began building our cow/calf operation, starting with breeding our 13 heifers with a Black Angus bull. We now maintain a sustainable herd of about 20 cows, bred annually via artificial insemination, which keeps our operation self-sustaining and healthy. Starting in 2020, our animals are certified USDA grassfed.
Sunrise Ranch cattle are naturally raised in a safe, humane and environmentally sustainable way. Our philosophy is that healthy animals produce healthy beef. We practice only stress-free handling techniques with our livestock. Our herd grazes on 350 acres of non-sprayed pastures using a system known as rotational grazing. Our cattle are able to amble freely and eat grass and grass hay from our valley and mountain pasture until they are content.
Sunrise Ranch cattle do not receive disease prophylaxis antibiotics, growth promotion steroids or hormones. We know exactly where our animals come and what they eat because they are born here on our ranch! We do not buy cattle from outside sources. Our cows are only fed grass from our pastures and a grass/alfalfa mix hay that we produce or buy from a farm in our valley. These pastures are never sprayed with chemical fertilizers or pesticides. The only natural supplement our cows receive is continuous access to salt.
Double J Meat Packing
We have our cows processed at Double J Meat Packing in Pierce, Colorado, a locally owned and USDA-approved processor. They dry-age our beef for 21 days and then vacuum-pack the cuts. We have chosen these facilities because they have skilled employees who treat our animals humanely and process small numbers of animals each day, compared to larger corporate facilities that butcher hundreds of animals per hour.
How to Buy
It’s easy to place an order; just click here.
If you have any questions, please e-mail them to sunrisebeef@sunriseranch.org.
Or visit us at the farmers markets in Fort Collins and Loveland. See our Farmers Market page.
Our 100 percent grassfed beef is:
- grassfed and grass-finished; no artificial supplements or grain, ever!
- locally raised in Loveland, Colorado
- rotationally grazed
- humanely produced and handled
- No disease prophylaxis antibiotics
- processed locally in a small, family-owned, USDA-inspected facility
- sold in individual cuts and in packs
- from animals that are certified USDA grassfed
Our Promise to You
- No artificial fertilizers
- No artificial pesticides
- No artificial herbicides
- No added hormones
- No disease prophylaxis antibiotics
- No animal by-products
Nutritional Benefits of Beef from Grassfed Cattle
- Beef from grassfed cattle contains 3-6 times the Omega-3 fatty acids of that from grain-fed cattle. These fatty acids are important because they are associated with lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
- Beef from grassfed cattle contains 3 to 5 times the amount of conjugated linoleic acid, which has been shown to help reduce the risk of cancer, especially breast cancer.
- Grassfed cattle produce meat with more minerals and micronutrients, as well as higher levels of vitamins. One study found that beef from grassfed cattle had four times the vitamin E of that from grain-fed cattle.