Environmentally Focused
“Land First”
B Bar Ranch has been a certified organic ranch for over 30 years. We are committed to regenerative agricultural practices: well armored soil and continual live plant/root by minimizing soil disturbance, promoting soil/plant diversity through pasture stitching, cover crops, and resting soil, livestock integration using regenerative grazing management, preserving and enhancing soil health through generation and application of closed system generated compost. We implement these practices to ensure systemwide health, improve the flavor and taste of beef and establish peace of mind for our customers.
First and foremost, we prioritize our soil health using a method called pasture stitching. We seed an area that already has plants growing as a way to naturally introduce more species and increase biodiversity that are absent in the current ecosystems of our ranch. This lends to a more diverse diet that our herds eat, leading to a more nutrient-complete product for our customers. (Learn more about pasture stitching here).
In addition to pasture stitching, we implement regenerative agriculture practices that mimic the movement and grazing patterns of large herds of ungulates, such as bison. Our cattle are moved daily or more often when grazing on live forage. Frequent movement and intensive grazing result in fuller utilization of the nutrient resources available. Much like pasture stitching, the cattle will eat more plant variety leading to a more diverse diet.
To further aid with our long-term environmental goal is the aspect of a closed nutrient loop through composting. We started the composting process in 2019 and finished our first batch in 2022. Our compost is made up of slaughter waste from our local meat processor, a combination of bones and offal, and wood chips, and is capped with partially digested compost. We also add biochar, which helps compost retain more water and also creates a home for microbes that reduce methane production. Bone char also has high levels of calcium and phosphorus,
typically lacking in Montana soils.
We strive to not only improve the natural resources we care for and raise great tasting, healthy beef, but also leave a full range of opportunities on a healthy landscape for those who follow us.
Ethically Raised and Sourced
“Long Term Outlook”
At B Bar Ranch, our mindset is long-term. We are dedicated to creating a better future through implementation of ecologically sound practices that result in guilt free, high quality beef. What’s good for us to eat is also good for the ecosystem that produced it. We’re constantly evaluating our environment with a critical eye and making adjustments that benefit all. Whether that’s bringing a heritage breed back from near extinction like our iconic ancient white park cattle, or building rangeland health, the introduction of more diverse plant species, all of our efforts are
for the benefit of the future.
Regenerative grazing outlines a plan that varies what season each pasture is grazed, to make sure plants aren’t being stressed in the same way year after year and to allow the land time to rest. Over time, this grazing practice increases the water infiltration and creates healthy soil. The more the soil can absorb and retain moisture, the less stress on our increasingly
scarce water resources.
Making our own compost allows us to recapture the unused animal byproducts from our beef processing and instead curate a product that adds much needed nutritional value to the land. Composting allows us to close the nutrients cycle, returning nitrogen and carbon back into the land. Nitrogen and carbon, commonly found in the animal byproducts that we use in our compost piles, are what the soil needs to provide plants the best environment to grow. The only nutrients that now leave the land
are in the form of the beef you eat!
In addition, we believe knowledge is power. We do our part to share the many things we’ve learned over the years with others interested in alternatives to conventional agriculture. As part of research and community-based programs such as the Organic Advisory and Education Council (OAEC) and the Montana Organic Association (MOA) we continue to gather data, learn more about best practices and on the ground experiences of fellow ranchers and often host educational events and ranch tours.
High-quality wholesome beef starts with the basics – healthy soil, clean water, and responsibly handling the cattle. We strive to improve the natural resources we care for and raise great tasting, healthy beef and provide the best animal welfare possible. In short -we provide great tasting beef that is good for the ecosystem and the consumer. We believe everyone should be able to feel good about the steak on their plate, the burger in their bun, or the hot dog they feed their kids.
Our stewardship of the land means only using additives to the soil that are naturally occurring. The land provides all the nutrients that the animals eat, and in turn, is in the beef you consume. The organic approach provides a nutrient profile that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants with less cholesterol, lowering the risk of heart-related diseases compared to conventionally raised beef (study). Additionally, through an absence of additives like antibiotics and pesticides, this reduces the chance of antibiotic resistant strains affecting the greater population (study). More testing is being done locally through MSU to further discover the health benefits of organic meat versus the conventional counterpart.
Quality Beef
“Human Health Oriented”
Maintaining a low-stress herd allows the cattle to develop a better flavor profile by reducing the levels of lactic acid that would build in muscles of otherwise ‘stressed out’ animals. Unlike other producers who only bring fresh meat to the market one season a year, we deliver superior taste and nutrition to our customers in fresh meat every day of the year, preserving both taste and nutrition. This process allows us to be able to easily trace what cut came from what animal as well providing quality control and a thorough
system of accountability.
Be the difference you want to see and taste the difference in what you eat!
