Our Soil

There is a direct science-based link between the quality of food we put into our bodies and the quality of our health. How do we get real quality food that builds strong bodies and can actually heal us? It all starts with how we manage our farm soils.

You can’t produce tasty, high Omega 3 steak from low Brix/low mineral content grass. Synthetic, chemical fertilizers like Super Phosphate, Urea and Potash kill biological activity and extracts calcium from the soil. This causes the soil to harden making mineral and trace element absorption difficult.

We stopped using these products on the farm some 36 years ago. To get nutrient dense pastures to produce consistently tasty beef we needed to choose more natural options. Over the past couple of years we have moved to a product from Kiwi Fertiliser that nourishes our grasses and is crucial for soil microbes with more natural, mineral balanced products. These provide the balance of mineral building blocks in the soil to nourish our farm’s robust soil microbes that then put those minerals into the ideal form for optimum photosynthesis and sugar production by our pastures.

We use rotational grazing methods, ensuring enough grass is left behind to allow for ultimate grass recovery. The length of time depends on the size of the herd and paddock they are going into, but as a general rule paddocks are left ungrazed for at least three weeks.

The high mineral and high Brix grass this provides our cattle, results in them having the building blocks of rich nutrients for their health and growth. And it means higher levels of health-giving Omega 3s and 6s and beneficial saturated animal fats in the meat we provide to you.

Soil testing and analysis (through Kinsey Agricultural Services USA) provides data to enable accurate recommendations for product and quantities required for optimum soil health. Nitrogen, Sulfate – S, Phosphates, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium, Boron, Iron, Manganese, Copper, Zinc and Cobalt levels are tested along with Ph level of the soil and Humus content.

We no longer need to be afraid of animal fats and elevated cholesterol in our diet – medical science is showing that quality saturated animal fat is heart, gut and brain protective. By choosing Grandads Beef you are also insuring that you are getting nutrient rich protein as well.

So go ahead and enjoy a good juicy steak – It’s actually good for you!

We are still very much at the beginning of our journey, and even after 36 years, feel there is still so much more to learn. We are really excited that already we are showing much higher levels of trace elements in our beef and massively reduced levels of heavy metals in the soil (which will also signify lower levels in our beef). Recent test in 2017 of our waterways have also confirmed pristine clear water that is not only good enough to swim in, but good enough to drink!

Rotational grazing practices

We will continue to improve our practices, and continue to test our beef and keep you updated with our results. Please also note that while we do not use chemical fertilisers on the farm, we are not organic.

PS: when you buy Grandad’s Beef, you are not only getting nutrient dense, tender tasty meat, you are also helping to support the change we believe is needed to encourage regenerative agriculture in NZ, and also helping to fight climate change.

Thanks for supporting Grandad’s Beef and being part of the change.

Here are some links from the experts explaining how biological farmings works, how it increases the trace elements in our soil/plants/animals and how it helps reduce carbon emissions and supports the environment: