About Us
Shady Spring Farm is a family owned farm in Northern Baltimore County. We are committed to sustainable farming methods and humane treatment of animals. Our cattle and sheep are pasture raised and primarily grass fed. We do not use growth enhancers, herbicides, or pesticides. Antibiotics are only used if recommended by a vet to treat a short term medical issue for an individual animal, never in food or as a growth enhancer. Our cattle and sheep are rotated through pastures for the health of the animals and the pasture land.
Why Buy Pasture Raised, Grass-fed meats?
1) It’s Better for you.
According to the Mayo Clinic Grass-fed Beef has:
- Less total fat
- More heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids
- More conjugated linoleic acid, a type of fat that's thought to reduce heart disease and cancer risks
- More antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamin E.
2) It’s Better for the Animals.
Animals that are pastured and grass-fed are healthier than animals who are corn/grain finished and kept in a concentrated area. Our animals are not confined and fed grain at the end of their lives to gain weight quicker for market. Because our cattle and sheep rotate through seven pastures, they are less prone to parasite issues and diseases that are often present in CAFOs (Confined Animal Feeding Operations). Cattle stomach’s are made to digest grass and plant matter, they do not digest corn and other grains as well, causing more illnesses in the cattle who are fed grains.
3) It’s Better for the Environment.
Pasture raised, rotated cattle can help restore soil ecosystem and rebuild the soil in the ground, along with the microbial diversity. This encourages the growth of grasses trapping atmospheric carbon dioxide in the soil. The rotating of the animals distributes nutrients throughout the fields and decreases run off into waterways.
4) Why does grass-fed cost more?
Corn/grain finished cows are “finished” for about 120 days on high energy corn in a feedlot. The animals gain weight fast and are sent to slaughter at 14 to 18 months. A grass-fed and finished cow will gain weight more slowly and weigh less at slaughter, which is usually around 24 months. This results in more hay costs over the winter. It also takes more land to pasture animals than it does to feedlot them. This requires a larger upfront cost in land and fences.
Please eat local when possible, but don’t stop there. Visit your local farm. Know your farmer. See how that land and animals are treated.